Regarding kids

[Tracy]

I guess most who come here know missing persons and may be searching everywhere and praying to find their loved ones.  I have worked with Youth Outreach organizations in Boston..  I happened to catch an episode of a show on NYTV channel 7 (ABC) on May 19, 2012 that profiled a kid, Andrew Parker.  I felt inspired enough by this story to try to write a post related to him and other kids who have left home as runaways.  I see kids like him on the streets in Boston and other big cities.  I really wanted to give hope for those kids and their parents.  There are organizations, some local, some countrywide who do help these kids.  I know I have worked with such kids and with organizations to help support these kids in any way we can.  We often provide food, clothing, and try and locate safe shelter for them.  I thought of Andrew Parker because he is so much like the many kids I have seen over the last 6 years.   What impressed me about this kid is that he did reach out to his family.  Many youth outreach organizations help kids with callls to home, computer use, and even train/bus rides back home (especially if not mandated reporters).  I hope Andrew has found such an organization that will help him any way and, in the off chance that his family and friends have not contacted Youth Outreach centers or organizations where they think he might be, I wanted to encourage them- and others in similar.  Some organizations are mandated to turn over kids to authorities, others are not.  There is a strong network, too, among young people who are travellers, who move between cities in different and far away places, places where kids are known to hang out.  Many travel the rails (like in old times), take buses and catch rides off other kids, sometimes through electronic message boards like Craig's list if they have computer/smart phone access.  I don't know this kids, but I DO know kids like Andrew and encourage family friends to seek out organizations that night keep a look out for these kids.  I feel like they are all "our society's" kids.  

[Brenda]

Thankyou Tracy,  I hope this helps some families to reach out to the organizations about their missing loved ones.