Three years ago, Forensics teacher Serena Lerma joined forces with The LYDIA Home Association, an organization based in Evanston and Chicago that works to care for children exposed to trauma and to strengthen families. LYDIA Home has been opening its doors since 1916 and offers a safe environment where children ages 8-15 can stay to recover from any physical, mental, or sexual abuse endured.

“Foster care has always been something that I care about,” Lerma said. “I have two daughters that I fostered for five years until we became their legal guardians, and I run a kids camp for kids in foster care. My girls have an older sister who’s been at LYDIA Home before and so she’s been able to be on the receiving end of that. I know from her that you just don’t always know what other people are going through and so providing kids with a little bit of extra fun and letting them know that other people outside care about them is my driving force.” 

Each year, leading up to the field trip, the Forensics classes raise money for purchasing supplies used to create Hope Packs. After communicating with LYDIA Home, Lerma is able to tailor all money raised to purchase items for the packs that are necessary and fun. This year classes raised around $2,400 and were able to purchase snacks, Squishmallows, games, and crafts. 

“We learned that 70% of inmates have connections to the foster care system, so our goal was to bring a little bit of joy to these kids to hopefully make their future a little brighter,” Delilah Pawlowski ‘26 said. “I am so thankful to get to be a part of something so important. I met so many incredible kids, and hearing their stories was difficult but also so inspiring. These kids had experienced so much, yet were so kind and loving to all of us. My favorite part was playing games with one of the younger girls I met. She was lovely and told me all about her life and her friends, and I felt so lucky to get to meet her.”

All Hope Packs were packaged by Forensics students on Wednesday, Feb. 26, the packs included various items that are appealing and appropriate for many children. Hope Packs were placed in hand-decorated bags, full of chips, candy, Gatorade, games, books, and toys. The Hope Packs were delivered to the Evanston location of LYDIA Home on the evening of Feb. 26.

”As an adult, I sometimes get caught up in these crazy news cycles and I find myself not so sure about where we are headed,” Forensics teacher Matthew Ranft said. “I found myself so grateful for the efforts of the other Forensics teachers, especially Mrs. Lerma, for sharing her passion of helping youths in foster care with me, my students and the LT community. Within minutes of everyone meeting, the room was filled with laughter, playing board games, high fives, squishmallows, sharing slices of pizza, break dancing, and people just enjoying each other’s company. I believe we have so much more in common than what separates us and that was on full display.”