Foster Program Lacks Funds To Expand To Yakima
Myrick and Paterno
A foster child charity based in Olympia is looking to expand its organization to the Yakima Valley area.
However, a lack of financial support is preventing the organization from doing that, or operating much longer at all.
Daniel Paterno and his business partner, Jennifer Myrick, are co-founders of the Capital Connections Program, a non-profit organization started in 2004 and based in Olympia that donates goods to fostered children in middle school and high school.
Myrick says the two are trying to expand the program to the Yakima Valley area, but a lack of financial support is crippling those plans, and threatening to shut the pair down
"We know what they need, we've worked with these kids for years and years, and we know what it takes. And without that support, we can't meet those needs of these kids," said Myrick.
Myrick and Paterno say it was the basement floor of a Landon Avenue house where they tried to start their kitchen connections program.
It was a program that offered mentoring for fostered youth.
Paterno says the program is meant to give those who leave foster care at the age of 18, someone they can come to for guidance.
"When foster kids exit foster care, they don't have anybody to go back to, just to hear how things are going. And I want to set a table in every community, and invite every foster kid to come have a coke with me," said Paterno.
However, Myrick says Paterno's dreams, and those in foster care, will have to wait until they raise enough money.
"If we're not here, it's one less kid; two-three-four-five, however many there are, that are not getting the help that they need. And the help that we know we are able to provide for them," said Myrick.