The McAveeney family began taking in homeless children in the Chicagoland area in 2007.  They learned thousands of foster kids living in group homes for children had lost hope that they would never be adopted.  A staggering number of babies, children and street kids were in desperate need.  They felt they needed to do more  - to show these kids they are valuable, important, and there are families that care about them.

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One day, McAveeney's daughter Lilly said: "Mom what about Valentine's Day?  Who's going to make all the kids feel loved like you love me?  What can we do to help kids living in children's homes feel loved?"  Lilly invited her friends to her home to make care packages and they wrote personalized notes to 48 foster children.  Lilly and her family hand-delivered each gift bag to sweet foster children.  Then, Lilly’s sister Ellorie asked, “Who’s going to help the kids feel special on their birthdays? And what about school supplies -- who buys them? ...and Fill a Heart 4 Kids mission was born. 

 

Facts - The wonderful staff that take care of rescued children wish they could do more to help their children, but state budget cuts prevent them from giving their children typical experiences that help them feel loved and remembered.  In school these broken children feel insecure and ashamed because they are excluded from those simple childhood experiences.  They can't escape from hearing their classmates talking about birthday parties, family movie nights, Trick-or-Treating, visiting their grandparents, activities after school, and Thanksgiving dinner with their loving families - it's painful to go to school.  It seems like every month there's an event or holiday that they have never experienced.   It's difficult for children to focus in school when they feel left out.