Dear Friend,

"I'm not a thief, Sister, but another few days on the street and I would have been. I was so hungry."

"That's what scared me the most. I was only on the street for a few weeks, but I was starting to think of all kinds of things I could do for money.

"Things I would never have done. I would never have even thought of doing them. But after a while, it starts to seem like nothing matters. And after a while it starts to seem like no one cares if I'm a thief, or a pusher.

"At first, when old perverts would ask me to do things, I would laugh and walk away ... but after a while, I started to think about it. I swear to God."

Kevin's eyes searched my face for a sign that I believed him. I could tell he really wanted me to believe him. He needed me to believe he wasn't the kind of person who would do all those things.

But you know, he didn't have to try so hard. I believe him.

So many of the children who come to us are just like him. When they first become homeless, they are innocent and trusting. Their biggest crime is being naïve.

But when you have nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and no hope, you get desperate. I wonder how many of us could survive on the street and not end up doing things we would regret for the rest of our lives.

I'm just glad Kevin came to us when he did. And I'm so glad you make it possible for us to be here for kids like Kevin.

When I asked Kevin how he came to be on the street, he shrugged his shoulders as if he was going to tell me it was no big deal. Then he shook his head.

"I don't know. It didn't work out for me at home. To tell you the truth, I was sort of glad when my mom threw me out. She's an addict and a little crazy and it was getting pretty scary.

"Besides, my older sister Lina said I could live with her. She always said we had to stick together since our mother was so crazy."

Kevin smiled, but it was the kind smile you knew wasn't going to hold up.

"At first it was great living with Lina and her boyfriend. She's the best. But I don't know. I made her boyfriend mad. He didn't like me. I tried to fix it. I tried to say I was sorry, but she said I had to leave."

Kevin paused and his eyes glistened.

"That's the one that hurt. When my mother told me to leave, I just figured it was the drugs and her craziness.

"But when Lina told me to leave ... I said 'I thought we had to stick together?' But Lina just told me her boyfriend didn't want me to live with them anymore. She couldn't even look at me when she said it.

"I won't lie to you. That hurt. That really hurt."

Listening to the heartbreak in Kevin's voice made me even more glad that he found us when he did.

So many of the kids who come to us have also been rejected or even abused by their families -- the people who are supposed to love them. As someone who grew up in a stable, loving family, I can only imagine that kind of pain.

And I know it only adds to the danger these children are in when they are on the streets. Just as Kevin said, when you are hungry and it seems like no one cares about you, it can start to feel like it doesn't make any difference what you do.

But you and I know it does make a difference.

Every time a kid like Kevin does something degrading or immoral, it chips away at their souls. For some kids it takes only a few weeks. For others it takes months or years, but eventually all of them begin to feel dead inside.

You can't keep doing something you know is wrong over and over without losing yourself.

That's why I'm so glad you make it possible for us to keep our Covenant with kids like Kevin.

Thanks to you we are here for them always. Twenty-four hours a day, and 365 days a year. Year after year.

Kevin was on the point of giving up when one of our outreach vans pulled up and asked him if he wanted a sandwich. Three sandwiches later, Kevin decided to come back to Covenant House.

I'm so glad he did.

"Sister, I really appreciate your giving me a place to stay. I really don't know what I would have done tomorrow or next week. I was getting desperate."

Sadly, I do know what Kevin would have done. When he got hungry enough, and despaired enough, he would have done things he would regret forever.

You changed this young man's life with your love and generosity. God knows how much I appreciate your help. I tell Him every single day.

P.S. Kevin's education has been disrupted, but he really wants to finish high school and is even talking about college. I think he can make it. My problem is that there are so many like him and we are trying to help them all at once. It's expensive to feed, clothe and educate so many kids. I really need your help right now. Can you send a special gift? It would be a big help. Thanks!

P.P.S. If you'd like to make a secured online donation, just click here. Your gift will begin working immediately. Thanks again for caring for our kids.

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