Tanner Houck carries on tradition of working with group homes for children in foster care in Boston
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck holds the foster care system very close to his heart. For the last five years, the St. Louis native has been working with Caritas Bosco House in Belleville, Illinois. While he will continue to work with the kids there in his hometown and support them, he expanded his reach with Home for Little Wanderers in Boston last week.
“I have seen firsthand the struggles and isolation that youth in the foster system are faced with every day.” Houck said during his visit. “As well as the uncertainty of their living situations in finding permanent placement.”
Houck and his wife, Abby, marked the beginning of the partnership with a visit to the group home. They played catch with residents, signed autographs, and tie-dyed shirts with the kids and staff.
“It is important that these kids know there are people in the community that care about them, that they aren’t left behind.” Houck said during his visit. “I am looking forward to meeting these amazing kids throughout the season and reminding them there are people in their corner rooting for them.”
In the coming months, Houck will visit each of the residential programs, as well as host kids and staff for games at Fenway Park.
As mentioned earlier in the article, working with foster care is nothing new for Houck. With his father, stepfather, and one of his sisters that are adopted, the cause is very close to the entire Houck family.
His mother, Jennifer Houck said to me, “It is definitely a cause close to all of our hearts in our family.”
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