Where Vulnerable Youth Find Healing, Belonging, and Direction
Mother’s Day: Your Compassion Creates Second Chances
Mother’s Day…
Just mentioning this day evokes a variety of emotions. Your response depends on various factors:
- Is your mother still living, or has she passed?
- Did your mother provide love and encouragement?
- Has your relationship grown over the years… or wilted from lack of connection?
I suspect most of you reading this can say you have (or had) a loving, caring, memorable relationship with your mother.
But…
During my 28 years at Raintree Village, I’ve witnessed hundreds of cases in which children come from difficult home environments and strained relationships with their mothers. The effects can be devastating.
Fortunately, that’s why Raintree Village exists… to provide healing, belonging, and direction for those vulnerable kids.
And that’s why every Mother’s Day since 1988, generous supporters like you have helped troubled children and teens experience love, peace, and stability.
Your gift this weekend impacts dozens of young lives this year. As we provide services to help “lost” teens, your donation enables us to provide them a safe environment while guiding them down a better path.
Your donation ensures we fulfill our God-given mission…
Offering children and teens an opportunity for a future by instilling strong FAITH in God, HOPE for a better tomorrow, and LOVE for self and others.”
For a great example of how your support impacts the direction a young man’s life can take, please read Mark’s story below…
Grateful for your support,
Kenny Holton
Executive Director
P.S. Did you know that May is National Foster Care Month? If you’ve been praying for those in foster care or are interested in becoming a House Parent (or know someone who is), keep reading…
Funding from this annual campaign assists us in meeting the daily needs of our kids and provides an opportunity to complete much-needed capital improvements.
Here’s how you can help us meet our goal of $100,000:
- Give “in honor of” or “in memory of” your mother or grandmother. Special acknowledgement will be given in an upcoming newsletter, and those honored will receive notification via mail.
- Donate personally. Every gift matters, so your donation online or through the mail will make a difference.
- If you are part of the approximately 200 congregations that support this effort, continue promoting it… and give on Sunday!
Be part of a 39-year tradition that’s changing lives!
Engaging youth, building supports, strengthening opportunities
May is set aside as National Foster Care Awareness Month honoring the foster parents, families, and those who support children throughout their journey to find a permanent home.
National Foster Care Month aims to:
- Raise awareness about the challenges faced by children and youth in foster care.
- Recognize and appreciate the work of foster parents and other caregivers.
- Encourage greater support for the child welfare system.
- Highlight the importance of permanent homes for children in foster care.
Since we at Raintree Village want to make a difference in the lives of as many youth as possible, we recruit foster parents to serve under our Child Placing Agency license.
We applaud all those who have served and are serving as Foster Parents through our agency!
To learn more about becoming a foster parent, go to the Foster Care page on our website.
Introducing Mark
“If I hadn’t been here, I’d probably be in jail.”
At 16 years old, Mark is already beginning to see what a second chance can look like.
Originally from Valdosta, he’s been part of the Raintree Village family for just two months—but in that short time, meaningful change is already taking place.
Mark enjoys staying active with football, basketball, and group outings around town. One of his favorite parts of life at Raintree is “Mingle Up,” a weekly Saturday gathering where youth and staff grill, relax, and build relationships. “I like seeing everyone happy,” he shares as his reason why that time is special.
Before coming to Raintree, Mark admits his life could have taken a very different turn. “If I hadn’t been here, I’d probably be in jail,” he said honestly. Today, he’s grateful for something simple but powerful: a second chance at life.
That second chance includes learning to manage his emotions. “Being here has helped with my anger,” Mark explained, pointing to the personal growth he’s already experiencing.
Another meaningful part of Mark’s journey is being placed at Raintree alongside his sister. “(Now) I’m not worrying about protecting her or being far from her,” he said. “It keeps my mind right.” That stability allows him to focus on becoming the young man he wants to be.
And Mark is thinking about the future. He dreams of traveling the world, building financial stability—even achieving an 850 credit score—and “taking care of business.”
At Raintree Village, Mark is discovering that a safe, supportive environment doesn’t just change where you are—it can change who you are and where you’re going.
Make a Difference!
Because of your support, teens like Mark are given the space, guidance, and encouragement they need to rewrite their stories. Your generosity provides more than housing—it creates stability, nurtures growth, and offers hope for a brighter future.
Thank you for making second chances possible!
Sunday marks the 39th year for the Mother’s Day Special Collection. We are asking individuals, families, and churches to use Mother’s Day to remember kids who come from difficult family situations.
When Mother’s Day hurts, you can bring healing.
Thank you for being part of the work God is doing through Raintree Village!
Help us meet our goal of raising $100,000 by donating on our website or click the green button.
You can also mail a check to:
Raintree Village
c/o Kenny Holton
3757 Johnston Rd.
Valdosta, GA 31601