For many children, “home” is more than a place—it’s where safety settles in, where trust grows, and where belonging takes root.
For Jahrona, that sense of home was something he had to rediscover.
Jahrona spent several years of his childhood living at Coyote Hill’s Foster Care Community in Harrisburg. This fall, he courageously shared his story at our annual Boots ‘n Bids fundraiser. His journey is one marked by upheaval, loss, hope, and ultimately, the transformative power of stability.
“Before foster care,” he began, “I like to say my story started at my mama’s house.”
Everything changed when his father suddenly moved him to Missouri. As addiction took hold, Jahrona’s father disappeared for long stretches of time, leaving him to stay with a neighbor’s family—unsure when or if his dad would come back.
“The part that hurt was waking up one morning and not seeing your dad there,” he shared. “That’s the one person who’s supposed to look out for you.”
When Jahrona entered foster care, he came to Coyote Hill. He first lived in the Zimmer Home and later moved into the Hubbell Home located at The Hill with longtime Home Parents Barry and Lori Stoll—a season he still describes with gratitude.
“It was just amazing, honestly,” he reflected. “If you were to tell me that angels on this planet don’t exist, I would say that’s a lie, because I’ve never met anyone as great as those two.”
But like so many children in foster care, his journey wasn’t linear.
Due to concerns about his behavior, Jahrona was moved to a foster home in Mexico, Missouri—an environment that proved unsafe.
“It’s a reminder that not every foster home is going to be on your side,” he said. “It helped me build a little bit of toughness, a little bit of grit.”
After living in more than a dozen foster homes, Jahrona returned to Coyote Hill at age fourteen. This time, he stayed until he graduated from high school.
And for the first time in a very long time—he felt safe.
“At Coyote Hill, I didn’t have to sleep with a knife under my pillow, I didn’t have to barricade my door. I could lie down and know I was going to wake up the next morning fine.”
Throughout those years, Jahrona formed bonds that have lasted well into adulthood. He met his best friend in first grade at Coyote Hill—and today, they live just down the street from each other. He stays in contact with the siblings he grew up with on The Hill. The roots built there didn’t wash away with time.
“Coyote Hill was the first place that made me feel like I belonged to a family—to a home,” he said. “Honestly, I love Coyote Hill from the bottom of my heart, and I think more kids should have that opportunity.”
Related Stories View All
