WEDNESDAY'S CHILD

Wednesday’s Child: Hunter Needs Family To Guide Him To Adulthood

Dec 2, 2020, 4:59 PM | Updated: 4:59 pm

SANDY, Utah – Entering the adult world is a scary feeling for 19-year-old Hunter, who has lived in so many foster homes he’s lost count.

“I’d say upwards of 20, at least,” said Hunter while visiting with KSL-TV at Classic Fun Center in Sandy.

In 2019, 130 youth aged out of foster care in Utah, according to the Utah Department of Human Services, and now Hunter is facing that reality.

“Just because I’m a certain age doesn’t mean I’m suddenly magically able to have all the adult skills needed to survive in our society,” said Hunter.

Hunter said he’s looking for a family that is open-minded as he is transgender and sometimes has trouble communicating.

“If there are people who are interested in learning to care for me, I would say it requires patience… just because I’m timid,” he said.

Lisa Miller is Hunter’s Youth Connections Advocate with Raise The Future. She said Hunter needs someone with patience to guide him.

“Hunter just wants supportive people in his life – people he can call and he needs advice or celebrate a victory in his life, celebrate a promotion, a holiday. He just needs people,” Miller said.

Hunter currently works at a care facility. He said he enjoys the work because it allows him to give a voice to the residents.

“Being able to do something about it when nobody was there to do it for me feels important,” he said.

Hunter hopes to continue down a career path that allows him to be an advocate for others. He said he hopes there is a family that will help him on that journey.

“I’m terrified because if I am out on my own, especially with a lack of support, if I can’t pay rent that month, I don’t have my mom to call and say, ‘Can I have $100,’” he said. “If I need a hug, or somebody to eat Thanksgiving with, then I’m just completely and utterly alone.”

To learn more about Hunter, visit his Heart Gallery profile or contact Raise the Future at 801-265-0444.

KSL 5 TV Live

Wednesday's Child

14-year-old Chea as she paints at the Easely Art Studio in West Jordan, Utah. (KSLTV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Chea loves to paint, draw to create masterpieces

On this week's Wednesday Child, Chea is a kind, outgoing, and a patient foster child who is looking for a family that will commit to helping her build her future.

11 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Kenzie, 15, loves reading fiction; hopes to find her forever family

Kenzie has lived in foster care since she was 3 years old. At the age of 10, she was adopted, but that didn’t work out and she returned to state custody. Now at 15, she's hoping to find her family.

1 year ago

(KSL TV)...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Manuel, 10, loves climbing; hopes to be adopted by an active, loving family

Manuel, 10, enjoys being active and playing sports. He's been living in foster care for more than five years and says he wants to remember what it feels like to have a loving and supportive family.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Autum, 13, dreams of living on a ranch with loving parents

Autum, 13, has been in foster care for almost a year. She loves ice skating and animals and dreams of living in the country on a ranch. She also hopes to be adopted by loving parents one day.

1 year ago

Wednesday's Children trio...

Shara Park

Wednesday’s Child: Siblings want family that will keep them together

At Airborne Trampoline Park in Draper it was only a matter of minutes before siblings Phillippe, Elias, and Lazuli were flipping into foam pits and scaling the trampoline padded walls.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Shara Park

Raise the Future chosen as Team Giannis’ beneficiary for NBA All-Star Game

As the NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City approaches, several local charities have been chosen as beneficiaries, including Raise the Future, KSL TV’s Wednesday's Child partner.

1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

Wednesday’s Child: Hunter Needs Family To Guide Him To Adulthood