On December 17, we had our year-end update virtual meeting where we shared why we started Three Rivers Respite. For us, we have experienced the joys and challenges of fostering children who have experienced trauma. Facing trauma-caused behaviors can be tough and emotionally draining. We realized when we get a break—a time of respite—we are much better parents and more emotionally prepared to love our kids through those behaviors. We want to provide consistent respite opportunities for low country foster families, so they, too, can get respite. More importantly, we want to provide the children in foster care with opportunities to escape in nature with other children in similar situations—and with adults who care for them, desiring to see them thrive. In 2022, we began to see our vision for creating community for foster care families become a reality.
2022 Highlights:
We held three different camp nights this year, serving 30 children and 10 foster families each evening. All the kids loved the TRR experience and are excited to come back. During our Christmas camp night, we were returning from a candy cane scavenger hunt in the woods when a child asked, “What if this was a family?” That is the feeling we want the kids to have at TRR. We want them to feel like they are visiting their family—like a home away from home.
We continued working through the county site plan review process. Once complete, this plan will allow us to build our cabins and clubhouse and move toward overnight camps. We will need volunteers to help with the building process and will keep you updated into 2023.
We experienced tremendous generosity from the community through financial donations and volunteer requests. We had 15 volunteers for each of our camp nights and all of our volunteers were outstanding! Through your generous donations, we have completed numerous projects over the past three years, including the bridge—which was completed through a Facebook fundraiser two years ago. We have now raised enough money to finish the driveway to the back of the property once we receive county approval.
Share The Adventure Update:
This campaign captures our vision of getting foster care children out in nature to experience the therapeutic aspects of being in the woods, away from the stress of daily life and disconnected from electronics.
We are well on our way to meeting our goal! As of today (12/27), we have matched $22,561 towards our target of $27,500. We have $4,949 to go to reach our full match! These funds will allow us to begin construction on both of our cabins once we get the final county approval. Having this funding will allow us to focus on fundraising for the clubhouse in 2023, which is estimated to be $500,000. Thank you to our generous and faithful donors who will match, dollar for dollar, all year-end donations up to $27,500!
o Gochnauer Construction
o Compass Enterprises
o Commercial and Home Services
o Whiting Turner
o The Busby Family
o Daniel and Theresa Alt
We are so grateful for all of the support you all have provided us over the past three years on this journey! In 2023, we are praying and believing that God will move in big ways for not only TRR, but also children in foster care and foster families. Please continue to pray for children in foster care, that they would find stability, love, and the support they need to thrive. Also, pray for foster families, that they would find the rest they need to provide the care these children need.
If you feel led to contribute to the Share the Adventure campaign before year-end, please donate on our website (link).
We wish you all many blessings in the coming new year. We are excited for 2023!
—Matt and Heather