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Raleigh's homeless children see hope through a new lens [The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) :: ](News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 31--RALEIGH -- Thirteen sets of small, eager hands reached for pricey Kodak digital cameras at the Salvation Army of Wake County's Center of Hope on Wednesday. The children, ages 6 to 12 and homeless, hurried around the room taking snapshots of their smiling and surprised moms and Bobby Murray and other Chevrolet dealers who had sponsored the gifts. Some stood, oblivious to their surroundings, fumbling with lenses and flashes. Just a few minutes earlier, photojournalist Linda Solomon of Michigan had clicked through a slide projector, explaining photography tips using her photos of Beyonce, Justin Bieber and her two puppies. She asked each of the children to write down their hopes and dreams, and encouraged them to share them out loud. Ashanti, 11, told the 12 others and the mothers present that her first hope is "to stay alive and healthy." She also dreams of going back to Manhattan, "because people bully me here." On her long list of hopes and dreams, she includes "going to heaven," and "that people would stop being so violent." Ja'Quan, 8, dreams about playing football and basketball. He said that it is hard to play sports with his six brothers, because they are either too old or live far away. "I want to be a singer," said Khamanii, 10. "I want to sing about my heart and how I want to help people." Then, the boys and girls climbed into Salvation Army buses waiting for them off Capital Boulevard to venture on their first photography assignment: capturing their hopes and dreams. Ashanti said that she is going to take a photo of her house -- her real house that her family plans to move into soon. "I'll get my own bedroom," she said with an excited jump and wide smile. Solomon's first Pictures of Hope event occurred in the same location eight years ago, and since then she has toured the country to help homeless children in a partnership with Chevrolet. Her 14 stops this year will include Raleigh, Fayetteville and Charlotte. Last year, the Charlotte Observer reported that 4,770 homeless children attended Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools in 2012, a statistic that shocked Solomon. She pushed to return to North Carolina this year. "Through these pictures of hope, these children realize there is hope," said Solomon. "It builds self-esteem. It shows the children that their dream is respected, and that alone is life-changing." After mailing the camera's memory cards to Solomon, the children will regroup this fall to discover their photos transformed into Christmas cards. These holiday greeting cards will be bought by Chevrolet for their customers and sold online with 100 percent of profits going to the Salvation Army of Wake County. The dreams represent values -- like friendship or care for parents -- more often than material things, said Solomon, flipping past years of greeting cards. One shows a boy's feet around a storybook Bible. "I hope to stay close in my walk with God," it reads. The Salvation Army of Wake County has helped 230 children in their shelter programs since January of this year. Last year, the agency handed out more than 62,000 new toys to children and referred 367 homeless children to specialized care. Raleigh showed unusual support, said Solomon, with eight local Central Carolina Chevy Dealers represented on Wednesday. In the fall, the dealers will throw another party for the children, where they will view their Christmas cards -- and some of their dreams might come true. Homeless children are at increased risks for abuse, hunger, poor health and education, according to a recent report from the Children's Defense Fund, a national child advocacy organization. On Thursday, Solomon will surprise 15 more children in Fayetteville. Bettis: 919-829-8955 ___ (c)2014 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Visit The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) at www.newsobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |