SAN ANTONIO — Less than one year old, Meant To Soar is working to help children find passions through learning as they from abuse, neglect and trafficking.
"My husband and I lost are daughter seven years ago and we've been raising our grandchildren," said founder Elsa Ezell. "We have seen first hand in our grandchildren the pain in the child's heart of losing your parents to addiction and human trafficking."
It's hard to imagine what Elsa and her family have been through, but she recently made the decision to turn the situation into action. She now works to help children achieve their potential in the aftermath of abuse, neglect and trafficking.
"Meant To Soar has events that we put on for families to attend," she said. "Our goal at the events is to inspire and challenge the children to let them know they were created with purpose. It's to tap into the creativity of their hearts and to help them see they were created unique and that God loves them."
Elsa shared with us that the effects of abuse and neglect don't end with children finding their 'Forever Home', but that in some ways the healing journey is only beginning.
"It is just the beginning of the heart of a child finding healing and it's a long process," she said. "Lots of times those grandparents, adopted parents or even foster parents need that community to walk alongside them. They need organizations like Meant To Soar to come alongside and help them."
Each event they host helps children with future skills.
"If we can identify what the passion is of each child, and they are invested in that, for them it might change the trajectory of their life," Elsa said. "If we can come alongside those families and help them find a sport, craft or an art that can help change the trajectory of a child because when they find something they are good at and they invest in it, that's good enough for a child to say I'm good at this."
Their next event is July 9, a young author's event. And then on Aug. 30, they are partnering with the San Antonio Missions Baseball Club.
You can find all the information at meanttosoar.org.