Meet "Mel" Make it Happen Client, Volunteer and Youth Liaison

After bouncing around four foster care group homes across California for two years, “Mel” was never sure if people were doing things out of the goodness of their hearts or not – she always felt like strings were attached. When she received a bed from Make It Happen for Yolo County earlier this year, she learned that some people just genuinely want to help others.

 Mel went into foster care at age 15 mostly due to neglect that was affecting her education. While her sister chose to live with a friend, Mel decided she would do better in foster care.

 “I spoke up and put myself in foster care,” Mel said. “I didn’t have the worst experience, but I wasn’t with anyone I knew, and I didn’t feel like I could share with anyone. They were moving me around so fast all over the California map without letting me make any of the decisions on where I was going.”

 When she left foster care at age 17, she moved across the country before landing in Davis this year at age 19 to be near her sister. She moved to Davis by herself and was sleeping on the floor of her apartment since she could not afford a bed. That’s when her sister told her about Make It Happen.

 “I was hesitant at first,” Mel said. “I didn’t want to seem like I was begging. But Jan was the nicest, most casual, relaxed woman ever and I loved that. She not only gave me a bed, she helped me move it into my room. I discovered that the people at this organization are direct and respectful and just want to help.”

 A week later, she learned her sister was a volunteer youth liaison with Make It Happen for Yolo County but would be moving to the Bay Area and no longer able to help. Mel decided to take her place and became a volunteer.

 “I wanted to help other youth,” Mel said. “If I needed a bed and resources that badly, I’m pretty sure a thousand other people do too. Now I can see from both sides of the fence, as a client and a volunteer.”

 That was just four months ago – she’s already volunteered on five weekends, helping youth pick out items from the storage unit and coordinating with youth on UC Davis Guardian Scholar move-in days.

 “I know how they’re feeling, so I want to be courteous and respectful and give them space if they need it or be there to help with supplies and moral support if they want it,” Mel said. “I know for me, when someone hears I was in foster care, they feel bad for me, and that’s not what I want. I’m here to say that it’s okay to take a blender if you need it, it’s not begging. We’re just here to help.”

 Mel is working for AmeriCorps, serving with the Yolo County Office of Education and Woodland Community College, where she has learned a lot about the foster care system.

 “It turns out that I could have asked to stay in my county of origin for foster care, but I didn’t know that,” Mel said. “There are so many other things that I know now that I didn’t know then, and would have been helpful, so I want to pass that along so others know their rights.”

 She also attends Sierra College, where she is studying nursing.

 “Being a nurse just makes sense for me, even during COVID,” Mel said. “It’s my desire to help people because I’ve needed a lot of help in life, and I want to pass that on.”