Rancho Bernardo church helps out former foster kids with furniture

Seven former foster children received around $3,000 worth of free home furnishings on Sunday through a project organized by The Church at Rancho Bernardo.

The service project spanned the last couple weeks as church members selected and purchased wish-list items that were placed in a shopping display format so the young adults could make their selections, said the church’s Impact Director, Nate Alcorn. The congregation donated enough new and gently-used items to assist at least eight recipients living in San Diego County, for a combined value of more than $20,000 and had moving trucks plus volunteers on hand to help the recipients set up their homes.

The recipients were referred to the church through two organizations — Just in Time for Foster Youth and North County Lifeline.

Alcorn said this is the third year the church has partnered with these organizations to help young adults — typically in the 18- to 24-year-old range — who have aged out of the foster care system and are “in transition” to their adult lives. Previous assistance has included mentoring.

Unlike most teens who have a parent or other family member to help them make the transition from high school to college or work force and assist them with moving into and furnishing their first dorms or apartments, Alcorn said these young adults “have aged out of the system, but there are not a lot of services for them to help them get into college, fill out job applications or obtain housing.”

He said the church members donated everything needed to set up an apartment, from gently-used couches, chairs and televisions, to other essentials like new pots and pans, cups, dishes, towels and small kitchen appliances.

“This (project) is something the average person can do, since we can’t ask everybody to be a mentor (to these young adults),” Alcorn said.

Joseph Burton, now 26, said he grew up in foster care group homes from age 5 to 16, when he was “sort of adopted” by a foster parent and able to move out of the group home. He now lives in a two-bedroom apartment with his grandmother in Escondido, attends Palomar College and aspires to eventually get a doctorate in organizational psychology and become a motivational speaker.

In addition to overcoming his childhood hardships, Burton said he is challenged by his vision problems caused by macular deterioration.

Burton said he learned about the church’s giveaway through Just in Time for Foster Youth.

“I was not sure what I was getting myself into ... but they had beautiful furniture and let me pick out stuff ... any item I wanted,” Burton said. “It was really exciting and I feel blessed.

“I got everything from furniture to knickknacks and appliances, a desk, entertainment center, a beautiful couch, pots and pans, bath towels and a lot of cool stuff,” he said. “I’m a student and can now decorate my desk.”

Burton said he even selected a few items for his grandmother, including a Pillsbury Doughboy ornament, and is now able to “upgrade” their home.

“I didn’t know what to expect ... and couldn’t imagine walking away with so much,” Burton said, adding he is grateful for all the church members did. “I’m in shock that this was possible for me, the people were there for me. ... It made me really appreciative for their energy, passion and love.”

Burton added that he also tries to help others by being very involved in the community. “I’m an advocate for foster youths and for the blind,” he said. “I love giving back to others.”