The Children's Service Guild (GSG) has always been the Guardian Angels to the children on the Child Haven Campus. They are the unsung heroes that ensure the children have beneficial activities while they are placed on the Child Haven Campus. Whether it is the toddlers smiling and giggling while playing with a parachute and singing in the Gymboree Class or a child that is experiencing a cathartic moment during a trauma yoga class as she yells, I am important. I am worthy. The Guild is a part of our campus family. The Guild has always supported activities that have enhanced our children's lives. The Guild ensures that our kids have new shoes and that they feel empowered with every step they take. Many kid's identities are defined by their shoes and thankfully the Guild has generously ensured that every Child has new shoes and one less worry.

One of the many stories I remember:

At one of the CSG Christmas parties, one little boy was staring at Santa from across the room. I asked him, "Why don't you go over to Santa and say hi?" He looked at me with me and said "I think this is the real Santa. He knows this year I am going to be happy and get my gifts. I usually get to ask him for presents and they never come. This year I get to feel like one of the kids on TV. They brought Santa, presents and chocolate." As he said this, he ran over and gave Santa a big hug. He ran around the room with chocolate al over his face and kept telling the Guild ladies thank you. I do not know if they knew the joy that they had brought this little boy who had spent many Christmases on the sidelines and was having his first real Christmas celebration.

At one of our GSG Valentine Parties, we had a child that had come in the night before and was very sad. He wanted nothing to do with making cookies or a party. He sat watching the other kids decorate their cookies. He said it would not be fair to his mom if he was having fun and he could not eat that cookie. He sat there with tears in his eyes and arms folded. One of the Guild members, we call her the "Frosting Lady" came over and asked why he didn't decorate his cookie. He growled, "I can’t." She said, "Well then eat the frosting. It’s the best part anyway." He sat there for a while staring at the table. He started eating the cup of frosting and started to smile at the other kids as his hands were covered in frosting. He sat up and went over to her and asked, "Can I have another cup of frosting?" The "Frosting lady" said "I told you so" with a smile. He smiled and went back to the table and played with the kids. He never decorated or ate that cookie, but he had the best time, and his day was turned around by an aet of kindness from the "Frosting lady." As he was leaving. He ran over to her and gave her a hug. These are the compassionate. moments that may not seems like much but are in a child's memory forever.

Thank you,

Patrick Barkley