Why REC Haven Inc. Matters Right Now

Today is Giving Tuesday, and as I get ready to share our mission with the world, one moment keeps coming back to me over and over again.

A 15-year-old girl sitting across from me, asking questions no child should ever have to ask.

Not questions about friends or school or plans for the weekend.

Not dreams for the future or typical teen worries.

But questions that carried fear.

Questions that were far too adult.

Questions that told me, loud and clear, that the world had put more weight on her shoulders than she should ever have to carry.

And as she talked, I remember thinking:

“Where was the support her family needed long before this moment?”

Because no child wakes up one day and suddenly ends up in a situation where DCS becomes involved.

There are warning signs long before that.

There are stressors.

There are gaps.

There are needs.

And too often, there’s no place for families to turn until things have spiraled so far that removing a child becomes the only option left on the table.

I refuse to accept that.

Not when preventable situations keep repeating.

Not when families are trying but simply don’t have the tools.

Not when teens are left to carry emotional loads they were never meant to carry.

Not when parents are overwhelmed, unsupported, and unsure where to begin.

REC Haven Inc. exists to step in before things break.

Before the crisis.

Before the investigation.

Before a child is left wondering what happens next.

Why This Matters Going Into 2026

We are building a prevention-focused, support-centered nonprofit — a place where parents, caregivers, and kids can come before things reach a boiling point.

A place where:

• Teens have mentorship, belonging, and guidance

• Parents have life skill support and accountability

• Families have resources before stress becomes crisis

• Children have safe adults to talk to when the world feels overwhelming

• Caregivers learn the everyday skills they were never taught growing up

• Cycles of instability can finally be broken

The truth is, many DCS cases don’t start with neglect.

They start with lack of support.

Lack of knowledge.

Lack of community.

Lack of someone to say, “You’re not alone. Here’s where we start.”

We want REC Haven to be that place — the place that catches families long before the system has to.

Why We Need Funding Now

As we move toward 2026, we are laying the foundation for programs that will shift generational outcomes:

• Mentorship and support for teens navigating family hardship

• Life skills, cooking, budgeting, and home management workshops for parents

• Crisis-prevention resources families can access early

• Safe events where kids can be kids and adults can breathe

• Community connections that reduce isolation, stress, and overwhelm

But these programs require:

Space.

Materials.

Collaborations.

Supplies.

Volunteers.

Training.

Stability.

Your Giving Tuesday support builds that stability.

Why I’m Asking

I’m asking because I saw the face of a 15-year-old girl who felt like she had to carry the weight of an entire household.

I’m asking because no child should ever have to wonder where to go for help.

I’m asking because families shouldn’t be punished for not knowing what they were never taught.

And I’m asking because prevention works — but only if it’s available.

Your Giving Tuesday Gift Does More Than You Know

Your donation helps us:

• Reach families sooner

• Provide real tools that keep children safe at home

• Build programs that give kids stability, confidence, and support

• Prevent cases long before a removal is ever considered

You’re not just giving money.

You’re giving hope.

You’re giving stability.

You’re giving a different story for a child who deserves better.

Love Today. Strength Tomorrow.

It’s more than words.

It’s the future we’re building together.

— Katelyn Puckett

Founder, REC Haven Inc