Tami Barnett ('99, JD '02)

RaisingHOPE, a nonprofit that I co-founded for children in foster care and transitioning aged youth, has been supporting foster youth through the COVID-19 crisis. We have connected youth with housing when their dorms closed, we have supplied Chromebooks for foster children who attend non-public schools and don't qualify for the district's devices. We have provided internet for foster youth living in motels where they cannot access the free wi-fi being offered to students. One of the more fun things we have done is that we have provided board games, puzzles, and art supplies to kids quarantined in group homes. We continue to support youth in need of grocery gift cards and gas gift cards as the needs have increased during this time.

The need is so great, we all have to pull together to support each other. If we don't support these youth people they have no one else.

Our hope is that no youth loses their housing or goes hungry during this time. In the process we want to connect youth with last mentors that can truly influence their future for the better. We want children and young adults in foster care to know that their community cares about them and we will not let them fall.

To learn more about Barnett's nonprofit, visit the RaisingHOPE website.