“When my mother abandoned me in 1993 the court had me live at Fred Finch. There were a lot of other kids there at this time. Kids that were abandoned like me and kids that were troubled. All of the counselors were so warm and welcoming. I felt like I lived in a really big family. I looked forward to having home-cooked meals. There’s a certain place for soul food in my heart still.
“I learned a lot of the organization skills I have now from being in Fred Finch as a young girl. We were all poor, so there wasn’t much clutter, but we did have to make our bed every single day. Everyone had chores. You had to brush your teeth and shower every day or you would hear it from one of the mamas. All these things have stayed with me through adulthood.
“Growing up in a group home was not something I shared publicly until I was over 30. Before then I was so embarrassed to admit it that I used to lie and tell everyone I came from a perfect family. I carried the shame around for almost 20 years. Now that I understand it was not my fault I am able to be brave and share more about my experience.
“I drove past the Fruitvale exit often [and] over 20 years never once have I not thought about Fred Finch when I see that exit. I finally mustered up enough courage to call Tara and set up a tour. I really wanted to visit the place that provided me with structure during the hardest time of my life.
“During this nostalgic tour, we discovered that I would be in a great place to give back.
“As a professional organizer I come across a plethora of items to be donated every day (all day). Some of them are brand-new and some of them are not in good condition. I started saving particular items specifically for Fred Finch. [This] photo [is] of my first delivery of goods. After seeing how happy everyone was, I am very encouraged to continue.”
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