At Coyote Hill, we believe we can disrupt the cycle of abuse and neglect in this generation by providing a safe home for children in foster care. Daniel’s story reminds us of the profound difference a safe, loving home can make in a child’s life.
At 10 years old, Daniel faced unimaginable tragedy when he lost his mother to suicide. In the aftermath, his stepfather turned to drugs and alcohol.
“We just did anything we could to not be home,” Daniel recalls, reflecting on those difficult years.
Basketball became Daniel’s refuge. “I walked however far I needed to walk away from our house with a ball, until I found a basketball court,” Daniel said. “And I would just breathe. I’d find peace.”
Daniel’s Experience at Coyote Hill
As a teenager, Daniel was removed from his home and entered foster care. When he came to Coyote Hill, he lived in The Zimmer Home with Jaimee and Charlie Marshman.
“They would sit down with me and [ask], ‘Are you okay?'” Daniel recalled. “And I don’t know if I’d ever been asked that before.”
Daniel witnessed firsthand what healthy family relationships look like. Charlie’s example as a father made a lasting impact. “You’ll never learn to be a man until you see a man,” Daniel reflects. “I decided right then and there … that’s how I was going to interact with my kids.”
However, the most profound change in Daniel’s life came through his newfound faith. Jaimee and Charlie brought Daniel to church each week, where he was able to see people genuinely helping others.
“They were loving, and they were trying to just help other people, for no agenda,” Daniel said. “That was the first time in my life that I stopped hurting so intensely. I came to the realization that I have a Heavenly Father [who] for some reason has blessed me with all of these things and all of these tools and resources that I need to be successful, for no other reason than He loves me unconditionally.”
Eternal Impact
Today, Daniel is a loving husband and father, living out the lessons he learned at Coyote Hill. His wife Chasity attests to the impact of his time there: “I feel like if he hadn’t [gone] to Coyote Hill and seen how to love and how to be there, he probably wouldn’t be who he is today.”
Will you join us in creating more stories like Daniel’s? Your support can help provide safe homes, loving foster parents and life-changing experiences for children in foster care. Together, we can break the cycle of abuse and neglect, one child at a time. Learn more about involvement opportunities here.
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