Our mission is to Improving safety, permanency, and well-being for
all children in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.
And our Vision is to To eliminate child abuse and neglect in Polk,
Highlands, and Hardee Counties.
My name is Cory.
I am in Integrity Care, and here is how far I’ve come
come
during my time here. Before I came here, I was one e of those
those
teenagers that didn’t go to school, woke up every y morning
thinking that I was able to do what I wanted. My parents
would always fight, I was surrounded by alcohol,hol, drugs,
violence, whether it be physically, verbally, or mentally. It
wasn’t 100% my fault the way I acted and portrayed
rayed
myself. I had a very bad childhood.
One day, something tragic occurred, and it
changed my life for the better. I went to school
one day and found myself in the office after
school, I had no idea why until a man came and
picked me up, and he took me to a group home. When I first got here, I was
quite nervous, and I knew no one, the kids that were already here were friendly,
but I kept my distance.
Over time I grew fond of everything and everyone, and one day I woke up
like I was waking up at home. I went to school every day, made excellent grades
and I guess you could say that the house parents that are here motivated me to
do so. I have currently been here for one year, and everything that I have done
while I have been here, has improved my life, and my choices, impulsive or not.
I thank Demetrius and Venus for helping me in the process. These two people,
are some of the most loving and caring people I have met. I look at them as my
real parents because of how outstanding they are doing raising me. Demetrius
is a photographer, a great one at that, and he inspired me to take part in
photography, he has taught me what I need to know so far, and I am becoming
a great photographer, thanks to him. Venus is a mother figure, an amazing one.
Both of them have helped me with many things, my attitude, emotions,
choices, and mental thinking has improved greatly. My time here has been an
adventure, and I have become a much more mature, and better person overall.
For more information on donating, learning more about fostering
or adoption visit our website or give us a call at:
heartlandforchildren.org • 863-519-8900
1239 E Main St. Bartow, Florida 33830 •
/heartlandforchildren.org