Sunshine Shelter gives children a safe home

By Katie Stallcup (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, December 1, 2007

Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of stories highlighting non-profit agencies that need help or donations during the holiday season.

NATCHEZ — Past brightly painted hallways, a young man lounges in a chair and tries to guide his virtual football team to victory. One day, he hopes to have a part in the real thing.

The game station is a luxury for most of the house’s residents. To some, plentiful food and a clean to live are luxuries.

The Sunshine Shelter started as a shelter for neglected and abused children. Now, it also serves as a place for children when their foster parents have emergencies. The center provides counseling, and plans for future programs like tutoring are in place.

The young man puts down his controller. At 19 years old, Robert is one of the oldest at the shelter, a role model for the younger children.

After leaving his abusive father to live with his mother, he says he had behavioral problems, so the Department of Human Services took over. With counseling, he transformed himself.

Jumping between foster homes and group homes meant Robert wasn’t able to finish high school. Now, with the Sunshine Shelter’s help, he’s working on his GED.

But he’s not stopping there.

“Since I was three years old, I’ve always wanted to go to the Southern Miss.,” he said. “I want to be a sports broadcaster. You never know,” he said, motioning to the television. “You might see me one day on ESPN.”

The Sunshine Shelter serves as a transition place for Robert, a place to work toward being independent.

“They help in a lot of ways,” he said. “I’ve been more focused on my goals, where I want to go in life.”

When younger residents talk of running away, he listens and talks with them.

“We’ve got a phone to call our families, we’ve got TV, we’ve even got Internet,” he tells them. “We’ve got a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. Why would you want to leave?”

But because of the number of children who come through the center’s doors, they are always looking for donations and volunteers, Director Matilda Stephens said.

Money, clothes, school supplies and even furniture are always in demand, she said. So are janitorial supplies.

“We go through more toilet paper than any other place known to man,” Stephens said.

But the center also needs volunteers.

“If a church group wants to rake leaves or if people need a service project, we can set up a day and time to come over.”

And this time of year, donations are especially important.

“We need anything for Christmas, for kids from 3 to 18 years old,” Stephens said. “People can burn CDs or donate small perfume and cologne bottles. And, of course, children’s toys.”