Impact Story: Bringing Hope and Joy to Two Sisters in Kinship Care

Meet Mia* and Lily*, twin sisters with a bond as unbreakable as their resilience. After facing significant challenges in their early years, they were placed in kinship care with their grandparents through Alternative Family Services (AFS). While their grandparents welcomed them with open arms, the family faced many financial and emotional hurdles as they adjusted to their new reality.

The holidays were especially difficult. Mia and Lily were old enough to notice their grandparents’ struggles in providing for them, and while the twins tried to hide their disappointment, the season felt more like a time of stress than celebration. That’s where your generosity stepped in.

Thanks to the funds raised through AFS’s holiday initiatives, Mia and Lily’s grandparents received much-needed support. With your help, the family was provided with warm clothing, holiday meals, and thoughtful gifts for the girls, allowing them to experience the magic of the season in ways they hadn’t in years.

But the impact of your support went beyond the tangible. For Mia and Lily, receiving holiday gifts showed them they were cared for by an entire community. Their grandparents, overwhelmed with gratitude, expressed that the assistance lifted a tremendous weight off their shoulders. “It’s not just about the gifts,” their grandmother shared. “It’s the kindness and support we felt, knowing we’re not alone in this journey.”

The funds raised during the holidays provided more than just material items—they offered hope, stability, and joy. They gave the girls and their grandparents the chance to focus on what mattered most: strengthening their bond as a family and creating lasting memories.

Your donations make stories like Mia and Lily’s possible. This holiday season, you can bring the same hope and joy to other foster youth and families in need. Together, we can ensure every child feels valued and loved during this special time of year. Thank you for being an essential part of their journey.

Meet Mia* and Lily*, twin sisters with a bond as unbreakable as their resilience. After facing significant challenges in their early years, they were placed in kinship care with their grandparents through Alternative Family Services (AFS).

Meet Mia* and Lily*, twin sisters with a bond as unbreakable as their resilience. After facing significant challenges in their early years, they were placed in kinship care with their grandparents through Alternative Family Services (AFS).

* ​Names changed to protect identities.

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Alternative Family Services

Alternative Family Services (AFS) provides thoughtful, informed foster care, adoption and mental health services throughout California’s San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Sacramento region. Since 1978, the mission of AFS has been – and continues to be – to support vulnerable children and families in need of stability, safety and well-being in communities through foster care, adoption and mental health services.

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