AGED-OUT FOSTER YOUTH HELPED BY JUST IN TIME FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND DMSB ROTARY'S BOCCE TOURNAMENT

Posted on Sep 11, 2016

When they turn 18, youth in San Diego County’s foster care program “age-out” from the support system that often does not prepare them for independent adulthood. This is when Just In Time for Foster Youth (JIT) provides many helping hands. Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary has been so impressed by JIT’s work that it chose JIT to be one of its two major beneficiaries for its 2016 Turf Bocce Tournament on Sunday, October 9th.

This family-oriented bocce tournament will be held on the beautiful grass of Del Mar Horsepark’s Grand Prix field. All ages and abilities can participate, experience an exciting day outside, enjoy breakfast and lunch, and bid for silent auction opportunities, while also helping others not so fortunate. Younger family members also can bounce around in the jump house and have their faces painted.

Marquelle Edwards, JIT’s Lead Youth Services Coordinator, bowls while JIT Youth Services Coordinator, Steven Silva, looks on. Opponents Barbara Blakely and Steve Bagwell stand by for their turns. DMSB Rotary’s turf bocce tournament gives JIT staff, volunteers, and youth the opportunity to have fun while helping Rotary put on the tournament and telling other participants about Just In Time for Foster Youth.

JIT provides a supportive community for transitioning foster youth through consistent relationships and emergency resources. While other programs might assist with transitional housing or college scholarships, JIT looks where there is a critical need and fills that gap so motivated youth can reach their goal of self-sufficient adulthood. It also fills the most important gap of all: lifelong connections with caring adults. (See www.jitfosteryouth.org.)

(L to R) Just In Time for Foster Care attendees, Victoria Willis, Sebastien Price, Janet Duran and Sal Torres, helped Rotarians at last year’s tournament and talked to participants about Just In Time and its work.