Putting Youth and Adults on the Right Path

Posted on: April 30, 2015

Category News | Personal Stories | Youth Programs

Tom isn’t yet into his teenage years but, being homeless without strong parental authority, he was already on the fringes of gang activity. But thanks to Americans Helping Americans® partner L.A.M.P. Ministries in Gainesville, Georgia, Tom is on the right path today.

Before he was able to get into any serious trouble, he entered L.A.M.P.’s youth delinquency prevention/intervention program and, according to Executive Director Mary Mauricio, he has already made major changes.

“He is not hanging out with gang members,” says Mary. “He has had no new offenses since starting the program.” On top of that, his school attendance and grades are better

And we couldn’t be more pleased to hear this from Mary:

“Tom’s Juvenile Justice probation officer says this program is the best thing that’s ever happened to Tom and the other young people in his caseload who participate.”

And we couldn’t help but share this wonderful news with you, supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, who played such an important role in showing him that it is not gang members who truly care about him, but people like you.

← PreviousNext →

Stay up to date with the latest news.

Join

Two young boys smile while holding Americans Helping Americans food boxes.

Child Hunger in the U.S.: The Facts and How You Can Help

No child in America should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Yet for millions of families, this uncertainty is a daily reality. Child hunger in […] Read More

Volunteers loading food boxes donated by Americans Helping Americans® into a car to support families in need.

Understanding Poverty in Kentucky: Causes and Solutions

Kentucky continues to face one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and the numbers tell a sobering story. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kentucky poverty rate was 16.4% […] Read More

250 Years of Americans Helping Americans volunteer holding fresh fruit to support food security and hunger relief efforts in Appalachia

250 Years of Americans Helping Americans: Fighting Hunger in Appalachia One Food Box at a Time

Since 1776, Americans have relied on their relatives, neighbors, and friends, charitable organizations (such as Americans Helping Americans®), and their communities at large to help them through the challenges our […] Read More

Children and families receive warm blankets and winter supplies at a community support center.

Why is There So Much Poverty in Georgia?

Georgia is one of the most economically diverse states in the nation, with booming metropolitan areas alongside deeply struggling rural communities. So many people wonder, is Georgia a poor state? […] Read More

Appalachia Tennessee: Where It Is, What It Means, and Which Counties Count

Appalachia is a widely used name for a multi-state region in the eastern United States, shaped by shared geography, history, and economic conditions. For official federal regional planning and data […] Read More

Understanding Poverty in Tennessee

Families across Tennessee continue to face the difficult realities of poverty. Rising costs of housing, food, and healthcare, combined with job losses and long-standing systemic issues, leave thousands struggling to […] Read More

Help Us Equip Appalachia Volunteers With the Tools Needed to Repair Homes

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.” For Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA) in McDowell County, West Virginia, having […] Read More

Summer Camp Programs in Appalachia Support Children Beyond the School Year

This summer, thanks to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, we are once again able to support summer day camp programs in rural Kentucky and West Virginia, benefiting a projected […] Read More

Flood Recovery in McDowell County: Rebuilding Homes in Appalachia After Disaster

In February 2025, McDowell County, West Virginia, was hit once again with historic flooding following “the worst floods” of 1977, 2001, and again in 2002, reports The Appalachian Voice. “But […] Read More

Summer Hunger in Appalachia: How Food Programs Are Helping Children When School Is Out

Americans Helping Americans® is preparing now for the summer months, when thousands of children in Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia will lose access to the school meals they rely on during […] Read More