When Lisa and Leonard stepped up to care for their great-niece A. and great-nephew J., they knew the journey wouldn’t be easy. But they also knew the children deserved something they hadn’t always had before: stability, love, and the chance to simply be kids.

A. and J. came to live with Lisa and Leonard about 15 months ago. Before that, their lives had been marked by neglect and instability. Lisa recalls that when the children first arrived, they didn’t know how to play with other kids. They had never felt the ocean waves at their feet or gone on a real adventure. Much of their world had been limited to school and a basement, separated from the outside world.

Since joining Lisa and Leonard’s family, A.’s life has begun to change in powerful ways. Now a sixth grader, she is thriving. She has made many friends and is proud to serve on the school’s Student Council. Outside of school, she volunteers alongside Lisa at a local food pantry, helping sort and distribute winter gear, tents, and blankets to people experiencing homelessness.

For Lisa and Leonard, helping A. and J. build a sense of community is important. They want the children to see that being part of something bigger, like helping others and contributing to their town, can bring pride and belonging.

“They are good kids with a lot of trauma,” Lisa says. “They just want to be like other kids.”

That’s why A.’s upcoming Environmental Camp trip during April vacation means so much. The overnight ecology camp with her classmates will be A.’s first real adventure on her own. She has been talking about it since the beginning of the school year and is already eager to start packing, even though the trip is still weeks away.

Lisa had managed to pay the initial deposit, but after a difficult winter that included a death in the family, funeral expenses, and costly home repairs like a new furnace and well pump, the remaining cost became overwhelming. That’s when Step Up Parents stepped in, providing a grant to cover the remaining $192 so A. could attend camp with her classmates.

For A., the trip is about more than just a few days away. It’s a chance to explore nature, build independence, and grow her confidence. Most importantly, it’s a chance to share an experience with friends and feel like any other kid her age.

“Your grant gives A. that opportunity,” Lisa wrote. “It’s not just a trip to her—it’s her first adventure by herself.”

Thanks to the support of Step Up Parents donors, A. will soon set off on that adventure, taking one more step forward in a childhood that is now filled with love, community, and possibility.

Kinship Care Story: A First Adventure for a Child in Kinship Care