Staff working in Mercy Home’s Community Care program got in the Halloween spirit this fall with a special pumpkin carving night for our high school scholars. Our scholars are former Mercy Home residents who receive academic assistance as part of our Community Care program. Each former resident is assigned a care manager who makes sure they have the resources and encouragement they need to succeed in school and are invited to events that keep them connected to the Home and to each other. 

While some of our scholars are away at colleges and universities, others are still working toward their high school diplomas, and we want to make sure they have the support they need to meet any challenge they may face along the way. 

“High School is an incredibly consequential time for youth, especially Mercy youth,” said Marlin Exton, Mercy Home’s director of post-secondary options, career resources & scholarships. “If they can relate to people who are doing positive things but who also know what they went through as Mercy youth, that drives up their chances for success.”

The former residents had a fun time carving pumpkins and catching up, and updating our coworkers about their lives. Events like these help our kids to know that Mercy Home and Community Care are there for them and that they remain a part of an extended Mercy Home family. 

Through this program, Mercy Home helps former residents not only with education, but also with jobs and career, housing needs, social support, financial literacy, therapy, and more. “You can always come back to Mercy Home and that’s what Community Care is for,” Exton said. “It’s the open back door for you, [if you need] to come back home.”

We were grateful for the chance to celebrate Halloween with our scholars and for any opportunity to keep connected with our former residents as they work toward their goals and build their futures. The upcoming holidays will surely provide even more such opportunities.