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Never Giving Up
She’s only in the 8th grade, but Aracely has packed a lot into a short time — much of it bad. She describes her life in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade: hanging with the wrong crowd, consuming bad things, using inappropriate language, dressing suggestively. But there was another influence on this young girl growing up just north of Chicago — the people and message of Safeplace, the S.A.Y. Yes! Center at Edgewater Baptist Church. Aracely first connected with Safeplace when she was 9, but she admits she wasn’t ready for a relationship with God. However, the staff and volunteers never gave up on her. And then it happened. It all “clicked.” Aracely is emphatic when she says, “My life turned around thanks to the grace of God! My language is improving day by day. I dress differently and I even listen to different music. I love Safeplace and everyone in it with all my heart. They are like my home, and I can never thank them enough for being there for me. They are very dedicated to what they do, like helping us with homework and teaching us about Jesus. It brings tears to my eyes just speaking about them because they have been there for me through thick and thin. If it weren't for them, I don't know where I would be.” Thank you to all who have given and prayed for S.A.Y. Yes! through the years. Children like Aracely are glad you never gave up.
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Aracely calls them her “troubled years.”
A major foundation gave us a $51,500 Matching Challenge grant to help us dramatically expand our proven strategy of S.A.Y. Yes! Youth Development Centers.