Many children are caught in a crisis this Christmas. They need YOUR help.
As we enjoy the holiday season with our loved ones, my heart is heavy knowing that some children who’ve lived through tragic situations are often separated from each other when they enter foster care.
I’m sure you agree with me that this should not happen. Not when we can do something about it. Especially during the holidays!
As I write to you today, I find myself focused on finding help for local children who need it, so that they can have the best Christmas possible.
Recently, two sisters, Emma and Lily, came to Thornwell. Before I tell you about them, please know that I’m hoping you’ll make a special gift of $25 today to provide the safety and care the two little girls (and other children) need this winter.
Because as temperatures are dropping, it’s becoming more urgent, as you’ll see from Emma and Lily’s story . . .
11-year-old Emma and 8-year-old Lily were found huddled together on the cold, hard concrete floor of an abandoned warehouse. The sisters were close together, shivering beneath a tattered blanket.
They were so hungry that their tummies hurt. 
While most children are writing letters to Santa and dreaming of presents under a Christmas tree, Emma and Lily’s main wish was for a warm meal.
Friend, will you help a child get the safety and care they desperately need this holiday season?
Emma and Lily are just two of the children caught in this crisis—living without basic necessities.
Let me tell you a little more about Emma and Lily . . .
Just after midnight, police officers found Emma and Lily in the dark warehouse.
The officers entered the warehouse, sweeping their flashlights back and forth across the room, and found Emma curled around Lily to keep her warm. The sisters’ few belongings were stuffed into plastic garbage bags nearby.
Both sisters were underweight and scared.
For children who have experienced unimaginable trauma—like Emma and Lily—your generosity means they can stay together at Thornwell to receive the care they need . . . instead of being separated.
Your gift today means that a child’s first night at Thornwell will be life-changing—especially for siblings like Emma and Lily. Imagine how their faces light up when they’re shown to their room with two clean beds, when they sit down for a hot meal, and when they realize they can stay together.
As you read this email, more children like Emma and Lily are being found living in hazardous conditions. Without your help, when brothers and sisters are found, they will likely be separated into different foster homes, adding to their trauma.
Every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and valued.
Your gift today will make that possible for a child who desperately needs your help.
You will give a child nutritious meals, clean clothes, and a warm bed. Plus, you will provide healing counseling services, educational support to help children catch up in school, and spiritual guidance. Most importantly, you can keep siblings together while they heal.
Like you, I believe all God’s children deserve safe and loving homes. And this Christmas season, you can make that belief a reality for children who have known only fear and instability.
As the end of the year approaches, I ask you to consider what your gift will mean to a child like Emma or Lily. For them, your compassionate support shows them that someone cares, that they matter, and that they deserve a chance at a brighter future.
For children and families,
Rev. Myron W. Wilkins
President, Thornwell