By Braxton Thornlay
Editor’s note: Braxton is a 17-year-old high school student in Taylorsville who collected school supplies for children in foster care for his Eagle Scout project.
My niece and nephew, Elle and Max, are ages 6 and 4. Both were adopted from foster care. Both have their own unique needs and struggles. Both have witnessed drug abuse, broken families, and abandonment; yet, both still believe in Santa Claus, see adventure as an empty playground and sticks that can be used as swords, and laugh with the entirety of their hearts at the simplest of knock-knock jokes, preferably those that are both nonsensical and whimsical. Most importantly, both have been given a chance at life that they didn’t have before.
That’s why I chose to work with Utah Foster Care for my Eagle Scout project, because every child deserves a chance. Every child deserves to be fascinated by potato bugs, build snowmen, get surprises from the Tooth Fairy, blow the seeds off of dandelions and pick the yellow ones for someone they adore, and know that they’re loved unconditionally.
In short, I chose to work with Utah Foster Care because of Elle and Max. I chose to work with Utah Foster Care because of all the kids who just need a chance. I wanted, in any way that I could, to help facilitate that chance. I wanted to be a small part of giving a chance to a child who needed one.
I wanted to give to the kids who had been seen as underdogs, because the two kids who call me “Braxty” are two of the bravest, strongest, and loving kids I have ever met. I wanted to help kids like them in any way I could—be it piggyback rides or notebooks, they need all the support that they can get.
