RICHMonD P.D. SEnIoR STAFF. Motivation for this event came from Detective Delon Jackson with the Richmond Police Department Youth Services Division, said Chapman. “He would go to the group homes and see that children were in trouble and had nowhere to go. We see kids that are eighteen and they just go nowhere, they are out there in the streets and in trouble.” Having spent time in a group home himself, giving back to foster youth in the Bay Area is personal for Chapman as well as for many local business that participated in the event. “Back in 1963 I was in a group home and from that I decided that after what I went though, I didn’t want to see another child have to go through this,” he shared. “I ended up raising my nieces and nephew when my sister couldn’t because I was afraid they would go through what I went through.” Gearing up for next year’s conference, Chapman said he has already begun hitting the pavement looking for donations. “Everyone says I’m good at going out and asking for money,” he said. “But I just go out and beg and am so grateful for every donation” he said with a smile. After receiving a generous equipment donation from SanDisk during the 2014 conference, Chapman said his goal for the 1026 conference to talk to other larger companies about ways they can get involved in helping foster youth. Always looking toward a better future for the kids, Chapman said he’d love to see what the conference offers into a place foster children can come to anytime. “I am hoping we can build a one stop shop for foster kids. A place where the kids can come to get a break. For those that are homeless they’ll have a place to get a shower and get some clean clothes, and for those that need a job they can come and we’ll train them,” he described. “This would be the best thing we can do for foster children.” PAnEl oF Ex-FoSTER CARE CHIlDREn ExPlAIn WHAT IT IS lIkE GoInG THRu THE AGE oF 18 To 24. To donate, volunteer or for more information, contact Duane Chapman at Duane.chapman@richmondpd.net
Contra Costa Marketplace - Aug 2015
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