Rising Stars: Meet Beverly Haller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beverly Haller.

Hi Beverly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
A few years ago I decided to volunteer with the Boulder/St. Vrain County Dept. of Housing and Human Services. I used to be a teacher so I was interested in helping young people graduate from high school or get into college. I also have four children of my own and all are young adults. Each has needed me in different capacities as adults and I began to wonder what children do if they don’t have parents when they enter adulthood. After becoming a volunteer with the county Independent Living Program that serves youth aging out of foster care, I started attending their meetings.

During one meeting a social worker mentioned that she was happy she secured housing for A previously homeless youth and that he had moved into his apartment that week. Then she said, I left him in his apartment but he had nothing but his t-shirt to sleep on, no pillow, no blanket, no food. It brought tears to my eyes. I knew immediately that my community could help. I went home and spread the word through social media.

Within the week we had created 24 first-night home baskets. These baskets have everything a person needs on their first night in a new home. The basket basically includes everything in the first box a person would open when they move. The baskets include a pillow, blanket, bathroom, and kitchen essentials so the person can eat, shower, and sleep their first night in their new place. Soon after that first effort, Covid hit and all of these youth aging out of foster care lost their jobs because most of them work in the service industry. Social workers were asking for food, toilet paper, diapers, and monetary help with bills for their clients.

Again I reached out to the community. Several members of the community asked if they could help me collect food and supplies. Those volunteers have become integral to our success. In January 2022, we officially became a non-profit, Helping Hands – There After Foster Care. We work with county social workers to meet the needs of youth aging out of foster care when other resources are not available. We also do our best to make sure our clients know people care about them around the holidays and birthdays by providing Christmas gifts for nearly 80 youths for the last 3 years. There is really no limit to what we are happy to try to provide….eyeglasses, rent deposits, tuition, orthodontics, money for overdue bills, debt reduction negotiation, set up for dorm rooms, furniture, etc.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, our community of donors is amazing. They are so generous and I can’t think of a thing a social worker has requested that we haven’t been able to deliver.

Having said that, last year was the Marshall fire and for a few months, just after we were officially a non-profit, we did not provide any services to the youth we serve. The community of donors became needy themselves. We waited about three months before we reached out to the community again and again, they were there ready to help!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Not sure how to answer this…I’ve had 2 careers. One was in corporate finance and then I was an elementary school teacher. My life as a teacher and a parent is what led me to want to help the youth we help. As a teacher, I met many very bright children whose parents I knew had not attended higher education. I always told my students to find me when they are seniors if they need help figuring out their next step. As my children have grown into adulthood, they have also needed parental help and it occurred to me how important it is for young adults to have access to adults who are there in emergencies or just when advice is needed.

I stopped working/teaching in 2014 but that experience is what led me here. This is my work now but it does not feel like work. It feels like mom-ing.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I think the most important thing I’ve learned is the power of personal connection. Although we respect the privacy of the youth we serve, when we can tell the story of youth and their needs, we are able to provide for that youth’s immediate need.

So many of them are working really hard but sometimes life just gets the best of you and you need a little help.

People can relate to that and they can also relate to their own children’s similar needs. Making that connection for our donors is paramount and making personal connections with our clients is very rewarding.

Pricing:

• We don’t sell anything but we are always in need of donations.
• A box of diapers or a week of food for 1 is $50
• $150 for a first-night home basket
• $500 Baby’s layette/nursery
• $1000 Security Deposit for an apartment

Contact Info:

• Website: thereafterfostercare.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/565566044060182