News & Updates
Connect with The Libertore Fund for Children in Central Florida and the Florida Suncoast to improve at-risk children’s quality of life with the tools they need to succeed.
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We’re all physically and mentally tired of COVID-19 but still have to cope with it. Coping with the unknown, change, and loss can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. With that comes irritability and a lack of patience. You may not realize you’re tip-toeing near exhaustion and our kids aren’t equipped to recognize the signs either.
7 Signs of Exhaustion
- Feeling depleted
- Not motivated by things you were prior to the pandemic
- Chronic sleepiness or tiredness
- Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
- Headache, dizziness, or impaired decision-making
- Sore, aching muscles, or weakness
- Moodiness and irritability
6 Ways To Combat Fatigue At Home
- Create Routines: Being flexible is great but having a routine can help children and adults go forward knowing what to expect that day. Routines add stability to the day that is surrounded by fear of what will happen next. Will I be quarantined? Will I get sick or someone I know? Will I go to work or school?
- Make Quality Time For Each Other: A quick 15-minute round of cards or eating dinner together with questions that require thoughtful responses, even taking a walk outside with no devices can help.
- Get Your Sleep: Tired brains need rest. Going to sleep at the same time each night and waking up at the same time, remove devices and electronics from your bedside, stop drinking water an hour before bedtime.
- Create Space For Open Communication: Use some active listening tips - be open-minded, watch facial expressions, remove all distractions, ask clarifying questions, and don’t be judgmental. This communication develops trust and a caring environment that will lead to your kids coming to you to talk when they need your support and advice.
- Laugh more: watch some funny pet videos or a silly movie with your kids and remember to laugh with them. “Laughter is the best medicine.” Proverb
- Build Your Relationship: If you or your child is experiencing fatigue, it most likely is wearing on your relationship. Find ways to spend quality family time together; grab a latte, take a bike ride, or enjoy an ice cream outing.
Recognizing the signs of what causes exhaustion can help you navigate the feelings and emotions we’re all experiencing. If you or your child need immediate help, contact your physician or mental health provider.
Sources: Medium.com & kidshealth.org
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The Libertore Fund for Children is excited to announce our Annual SuperStar Sports Party on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
Come out to the ballpark for fun while making an impact on underprivileged and at-risk kids. It's a fun-filled night of music, dancing, food & drinks. Enjoy a whiskey and cigar bar. Have some fun making bids on incredible sports memorabilia, game-day experiences, and locally sponsored prizes.
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022
Where: 34 Club at Joker Marchant Stadium, 2201 Lakeland Hills. Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33805
Time: 7:00 P.M. -10:00 P.M.
Attire: Casual, Sports Jerseys or Wear Your Team Colors
Proceeds for this event go to the Larry Libertore Youth Sports Scholarship for underprivileged youth, ages 11-18, to participate in sport’s leagues, camps, and clinics.
Learn more about the Larry Libertore Youth Sports Scholarship and how you can become a sponsor here.
Since the inception of this scholarship in 2019, with the help of our donors and sponsors, $47,708 has been given to 35 young aspiring athletes to participate in sports camps and leagues.
Help young athletes to play and realize the benefits of sports:
- keeping them off the streets in a positive environment
- making relationships with role models and mentors
- learning about team spirit
- developing self-discipline and focus
- increasing self-esteem
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Last week, in Florida, one out of every four infections happened in someone 19 or younger.
Most school-aged children have returned to school or will be in the next week. Many parents across the country are faced with the sad reality that they are not sure how to protect their children from the COVID-19 virus. In Florida, we have already witnessed thousands of children testing positive for the virus and entire school grades being quarantined within the first week of school.
My grandson lives two hours away and I received a frantic call from my son, his dad, asking if I could drive there NOW and stay for two days because Miles was exposed to someone with Covid and couldn’t go back to school until Monday. Neither his dad nor mom could take off any more days of work. They had no one to help and all of us were thrown into a stressful situation. Luckily, I was able to find a way to keep him. What happens the next time?
There are no words to describe the internal struggle parents grapple with these days while trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy for their children. The fear of them coming home ill due to exposure is probably greater. Whether we agree on facemasks, vaccinations, or virtual school - our children are suffering and parents are not ok.
While many parents are juggling work while still providing care by staying home when a child tests positive, or while under quarantine, they may not have the village of support they were promised. It could be the single mom that lives alone with her children across the street or the young couple 2 pews behind you at church.
Let’s be the light in these dark times.
Where do we go from here? How can we show support? What will the next phase of the pandemic look like? We don’t have these answers but what we can do is reach out to the parents of school-aged children that you know. Check in to make sure they’re getting the rest they need. Ask them if there’s anything you can do. Offer to drop off dinner or a board game, help with schoolwork, babysit for an hour or just be there to listen. If you are the parent that needs support, reach out to a friend, a neighbor, a church peer, the school, or a community partner and ask for help.
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Children have a universal language and it’s their imagination. To further unlock this skill, the gift of literacy is needed. Unfortunately, the data suggests that the COVID-19 disruptions affected learning trajectories for all students, especially those who were already high-risk or needing accommodations. Reading is a complex skill that requires decoding and during these times the demand for resources to support literacy is ever-present. A gift of $25 a month will change the trajectory of a child’s life. When you’re giving, select the Education fund. It’s that easy to help our children further their imagination and literacy skills.
Help Children Learn, Donate to Education.
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The children that find forever homes are blessed, but I believe that the adoptive parents receive the most blessings. All families benefit differently because each family is unique, but there is no doubt that an adopted child will enrich the lives of all family members by filling the home with life, love, laughter, new adventures, and challenges, too. Adoption can be a scary endeavor, but it is a blessing for both the child and the parent(s). I know, I adopted my son when he was 2 years old (he is now 39) and have enjoyed so many blessings over all these years. What children bring to the home, besides some challenges, are arms to hug, a mouth to kiss, words to say, “I need you, I love you, thank you for giving me a home, teach me, play with me, fight for me”. Adoption isn’t always an easy adjustment to your life and your family's, but once you make the adjustment, it is so worthwhile.
Considering adoption? Reach out to professionals and other adoptive parents, do your research and let your heart lead you.
There is a tremendous need for foster parents as well as adoptive parents to step forward for those children seeking stable, loving homes. The Heart Gallery exists to bring efficiency, and innovation to the foster and adoption process. In 2020, Matthew Straeb, President of the Heart Gallery of Sarasota designed and implemented digital software and proposed a statewide digital transformation for foster parent recruitment practices and it passed both house and senate appropriations. Read more, here.
Check out the Family Finder, and learn more about our agency partner The Heart Gallery of Sarasota.
