Page 7 - 2019 Impact Report for flip book
P. 7
Five-year-old Joshua came to The Shelter with his
mother and his little sister after suffering domestic
violence for several years. His father would constantly
hit him, spit on him, and call him names.
When Joshua first came to The Shelter, he was very
shy and preferred to play by himself. When his mother
found a job, Joshua began attending The Shelter’s After
School program, where he started spending time outdoors.
He liked the playground and the Nature Explore Classroom.
He also enjoyed taking nature walks, riding his bicycle, and
playing sports.
Joshua was thrilled when he found out he would be going on
a field trip to the Naples Botanical Garden. As the day
approached, he could not stop talking about the trip and asking
questions about the activities planned for that day. Once at the
the Botanical Garden, Joshua was elated. Full of excitement, he
walked around the gardens taking in all the beauty and fresh air,
fully enjoying his great adventure.
The visit was a healing experience for Joshua. Afterward, he
seemed ‘lighter’ and very happy. He became more gregarious and
was willing to engage his peers in play. He began to spend more time
outdoors and gained greater self-confidence, which helped him
increase his circle of friends. Once shy and lonely, Joshua found the
trust and confidence to allow himself to be the confident, outgoing boy
he had always been.
9,620 Hours of child care and after school care provided in 2019
shelter
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