You Have the Power to Change Lives

Start fundraising or make a gift to bring LSSI's professional services to children in foster care, adoptive families, and those who need mental health treatment. Every donation helps! Your generosity can provide safe homes, counseling services, and mental health care. And when you give right now all donations up to $25,000 will be doubled by a Christmas match.

Read Charlie's Story to learn about the impact of your gift to LSSI.

Charlie's Story

Would you adopt this baby?

Born prematurely, Charlie weighed less than two pounds at birth. He went into heroin withdrawal immediately. There were many other physical problems: Charlie was blind, had both cerebral palsy and microcephaly (the disease associated with the Zika virus), and needed a tracheotomy to breathe. He was 95% brain damaged.

Charlie and his twin brother were abandoned at the hospital by their parents, who had a history of homelessness, drug addiction, and domestic violence. Charlie's twin died a month later.

Charlie didn't have much going for him. Who would step forward to give him the love and care he needed? Like Jesus 2000 years ago, there are children today who seem to have no place.

But that wasn't the case for Charlie!

His adoptive parents, Mia and Bill, already had two sons one biological and one adopted, when Charlie joined their family. He was six months old and weighed just 5 pounds.

"He might not have survived if he hadn't arrived when he did. [His caseworker] really wanted a home for this child. The people at LSSI that I dealt with were nothing but uplifting and supportive," said Mia.

After Charlie turned two, a fourth son came into the family through adoption. Mia says his brothers were never embarrassed by Charlie's many challenges. "He just had a magic about him. You fell in love with him." As the boys grew older, each of them had a chore chart - even Charlie. He had two responsibilities each day: to smile and to be happy.

By the time Charlie was twelve years old he weighed 135 pounds. His mental capacity never went beyond that of a four month old baby. He was 100% dependent on others, unable to sit or hold his head up without support. He never spoke a word, although his laugh became contagious. In the end, his body simply gave out.

Charlie died on his 13th birthday in 2018, surrounded by his family.

"We sang Happy Birthday to him at midnight. We bought an ice cream cake so we could put some on his tongue. I said to him 'Look for Jesus. And when you see him, you run to Him and don't look back!' And he looked up at me with this amazing smile."

At this time of year we are all looking for Jesus. We look for that tiny baby who brings light into our dark world. We look for the love and the hope and the salvation that he offers.

It is Christ's sacrifice and unconditional love that we imitate when we reach out to help others. We try to love as he loves accepting people in their wholeness, including all the complexities and struggles that may bring.

Children like Charlie can't wait. Everyday that passes is one more day without the kind of love and care they need. You can help provide that with your gift to LSSI. Please give today so your donation can be included in our Christmas match.

Give in gratitude for the Christ child.

Give in memory of Charlie.

Give in honor of adoptive and foster parents.

Give because you can make a difference.

$50 can provide transportation vouchers for clients to attend counseling sessions or pick up medications.

$100 can provide foster children with critical items like diapers, formula, car seats, and winter coats.

$250 can provide 3 hours of counseling for children who are in need of mental health services.

You have the power to change the lives of children like Charlie. Your gift today means that LSSI can provide professional services to children in foster care, adoptive families, and those who need mental health treatment. And right now your gift will be doubled by an anonymous donor who has provided a generous Christmas match of $25,000.

Thank you for your generosity!