Biker Groups, Churches Sponsor Oceanfront Trip For Members Of "I Survived Berks County" Support Group

Last night, a group gathered in Virginia Beach to share a meal and have some fun. From all appearances, the group looked like any other group at the ocean front having a cookout. There was laughter, singing, and lots of food.  But this was different then your average get together.

The get together was sponsored by churches and biker groups in Virginia. The attendees? Adults from the "I Survived Berks County" support group which has formed in Lehigh County. Members of the group are adults who had CYS involvement in their lives when they were young. Many of the adults were sent to homes like Kids Peace and Bethany Home. Others were sent to live in foster care homes. In some cases, the foster care homes were worse then what they endured at home.

"I am so grateful for these people. It's nice to get away and I've never been to Virginia before", said one attendee.

"The people are nice and they really care about what we've gone through", said another. "It helps. It helps to know people care."

Counselors were also available if participants needed to talk. Some of the adults did just that; others remained silent.

" I don't trust counselors" said one man who identified himself just as G Daddy. "In Berks County, counselors are part of "the system". They'll sell you out in a heart beat to make money. That's all kids are in Berks--a way to make money." G Daddy got up suddenly and walked to the ocean, throwing shells into the water. A biker came up alongside of him and just stood silently, with his hand on G Daddy's shoulder.

Pastor CJ is old enough to remember the civil rights movement in the 1960s although he won't say his age. "I remember the marches and I remember folks getting beat up and even killed for standing up for what was right. Houses were burned and people woke up to burning crosses on their lawns if they chose to speak out. I remember when the schools were segregated and when you could only use certain bathrooms and certain water fountains. I can relate to the anger these people have at the system. But anger will only destroy you. What happened to these young people was wrong, but it happened. We're here today to say that we care and to help them process what happened, to help them move forward, to give them a safe environment to talk about what happened to them."

Andy used to live in Pennsylvania. He now lives in Virginia.  "My parents were foster parents. These kids were deeply wounded when they came to our family. Some of them had horrible things done to them at the hands of their parents before the system stepped in and gave them a safe place to live. Others had a safe place to live and were just taken."

Andy continued. "I've kept in touch with a bunch of the foster kids that lived with our family. Their stories didn't end well. They didn't have the support they needed, they didn't get the help they needed to heal. It affected their kids as well. That's why I'm here today. I want to help."

"If you aren't part of the solution, you are the problem" said another sponsor of the trip. I want to be part of the solution.