Summer is just about upon us, and here comes the sun! After a spring soaked in rain, my garden and new lawn are practically singing for sunshine. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful; the rain has been a gift, coaxing vibrant life from the soil. But as with most things, it’s a double-edged sword. When we have one, we long for the other.

That’s why the recent weekend felt like a small miracle. The forecast promised rain all day, but the skies held off just long enough for us to host our Family Fun Fishing Day with Kinship families: dry skies, joyful hearts and yes, plenty of fish caught! As we packed the last car, the rain returned, like a curtain falling on a perfect scene. It was a beautiful reminder of how the smallest windows of grace can make the biggest memories.

For those who don’t know, The River Center proudly offers Kinship Navigation – a lifeline for grandparents, relatives and nonbiological caregivers raising children. Thanks to funding from the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), our very own Mandy Carter, Kinship navigator and community resource specialist, is here to guide families through the storm.

And let me tell you – she is a force.

Mandy doesn’t just know the system, she’s walked it. She’s lived it. Raised in Kinship care herself, she’s faced homelessness, heartbreak and hope – and brings that experience to the families she now serves. Her heart is firmly in this work, and her resource knowledge is second to none. She doesn’t just help; she shows up, without judgment, with a steady hand and an open heart.

And then there’s "See the ABLE, Not the LABEL,” Mandy’s groundbreaking, peer-led virtual support group for caregivers of children with disabilities or developmental differences. It's the only one of its kind in the state. Whether your child has a diagnosis or you’re navigating uncharted parenting territory, this group offers what every caregiver deserves -- a place to feel seen, supported and not alone.

Mandy has worked alongside hundreds of families—from foster parents to grandparents, from those in deep crisis to those just needing a moment to breathe. Sometimes she’s connecting them to resources. Sometimes she’s planning a joyful event. Sometimes she’s just there to listen.

But always, she’s there.

As Mandy says: “I do this work because I am the families we serve. Their stories are my story. I carry them with me – with deep respect, care, and hope.”

That hope shows up in quiet moments. A deep breath from a tired caregiver who whispers, “Thank you—without you, I wouldn’t have known where to turn.”

The beaming smile of a child at an event created just for them.

Success isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it looks like a single spark of hope. One family feeling a little less lost. A heart held in steady hands.

That’s what we do here. That’s who Mandy is.

And we are so grateful.

Odette Butler serves as executive director of The River Center Family and Community Resource Center. She can be reached at 603-924-6800.