News

  While volunteering in a children’s summer program, I often saw a foster child run to the teacher’s desk each day and ask if their foster parent had dropped off lunch. Lunch was never there, and the child was offered a daily peanut butter sandwich. This was humiliating because others had good food from home. One day this child brought food and shared it within the classroom. Sadly, the facilitator, not knowing the significance of this event, ordered that the read more…

    Promise the Children is seeking a part-time Communications and Marketing Coordinator beginning April 1, 2020. This temporary role will continue throughout the summer and end just before Labor Day on September 4, 2020. Title: Communications & Marketing Coordinator (Part-Time, Temporary) Duration: 6 months | Beginning March 30, 2020 – September 4, 2020 Location: Greater Lynn Area / Nahant, MA | Majority of work can be done from home Hours: 5 hours per week Pay Rate: $20 per hour read more…

Today’s children face multiple stresses surrounding separation from family and community. This separation in and of itself is very stressful. The reasons for the separation are also stressful, and may include: Parent(s) who are addicted to opioids or substances causing them to neglect their children. Based on data from 2014 and earlier, about 1 in 8 children (8.7 million) aged 17 or younger lived in households with at least one parent who had a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Parent(s) who read more…

Red Flag Laws: 17 states have enacted a Red Flag Law. This law allows a temporary removal of firearms from a person who may present a danger to themselves or others. A judge makes the determination at a court hearing, and refusal to comply is a criminal offense. Another court hearing is usually required to extend the gun removal. This law has strong support, including from the NRA, as long as due process is involved. Senator Marco Rubio (R — read more…

Assault Weapons: Recently I saw a TV report about a U.S. District Attorney who was shot and wounded by someone whom she had sentenced. The dark scars running up her arms startled me. The shooter had used an assault weapon with bullets that exploded after entering her body. While our constitution allows the ownership of guns, there is no reason for the private or licensed sale of assault weapons and ammunition to the general public. Gun manufacturers have a responsibility read more…

Years ago a friend of mine lived next to a neighbor with a fierce dog that was ready to bite every living thing that passed by his house. One day that dog got free, came into my friend’s yard and attacked his dog. In anger, my friend decided to kill that fierce dog. He got his gun from a locked safe, retrieved his bullets from separate storage, and started toward the door. He had time to reconsider and returned the read more…

Around 1.4 million U.S. students between the ages of 6-18 are homeless, and every year approximately 1 million babies, toddlers and preschoolers also experience homelessness. The definition of homelessness is divided into those who are sheltered and those who are not. Thankfully, the majority of children are in sheltered situations. The extent of homelessness nationally and in each state is described here. Homelessness is a public health crisis and there is a significant negative impact of homelessness on children’s mental read more…

On August 7, 2019, ICE officials raided several food plants in Mississippi in the largest single raid of its kind in U.S. history.  Many of the individuals detained were parent(s) and some will never be reunited with their children. What happens to children when parent(s) are no longer at home to care for them? There are many complicated possibilities for where a child will end up if his or her parent(s) are detained. The best case scenario is when a read more…

    Homelessness in America is not what you might think it is.  In the U.S.A. 2.5 million children experience homelessness each year. By law, a person qualifies as homeless if they lack “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” (McKinney Vento Act). A person does not need to be “unsheltered” to qualify as homeless and experience the pervasive negative impacts of this experience. If you are asked to envision a homeless person in your mind, you may conjure up read more…

.   Promise the Children invites you to our annual Summer Fundraiser in support of The REAL Program! When: Friday, August 2nd from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Where: Promise the Children | 58 Winter Street | Nahant, MA RSVP: Eventbrite registration page Join us for a summer fundraiser hosted by Promise the Children in honor of The REAL Program in Lynn. Enjoy light bites, wine, sangria and beer. Chips, dip and fresh guacamole will also be served. DONATIONS APPRECIATED! Consider making a donation online read more…