From the outside, 17-year-old Amber and her 8- and 6-year-old siblings, Keisha and Donte, appear to be happy kids enjoying themselves and smiling with one another. What you cannot see from the outside is the struggle they have been through.

Just before Christmas, the children were placed in the Steve and Cheryl Wild Children’s Emergency Shelter after being removed from their home because of neglect and suspicions of abuse by their stepdad. Their mother suffered from mental illness.

These are not the first children that have been treated this way and, unfortunately, they are not the last. When kids come to the shelter, they have been traumatized–victims of abusive, neglectful or absent parents, usually living in unstable homes. Often, the teenagers become troubled and begin to abuse drugs and alcohol. Some even have run-ins with the law.

“We try to give them as much normalcy as possible,” says Teffany Heywood, the director of the Children’s Shelter.

At such a young age, Amber had filled the parenting void. Keisha had severe anger issues; Donte was just confused and wanted to be with Mom. Heartland Family Service staff members gave the children the support and help they needed.

The shelter works to keep a routine schedule and comfortable atmosphere. Students attend their “home” school and participate in recreational activities. The children attend therapy appointments and substance abuse treatment if needed. Supervised visits are kept with parents if possible.

“It’s traumatic for children, because even though they hit them, they are still Mom and Dad,” Heywood says.

Within the shelter walls, they receive warm meals, a bed and, most importantly, safety and comfort from those around them.

While the siblings were at the shelter, middle school and high school volunteers “adopted” children staying at the Children’s Emergency Shelter, bringing them Christmas gifts, holiday food and helping them decorate the shelter’s tree. When they opened their gifts, their faces lit up.

“It was just like they were home for Christmas; like something you and I would take for granted,” Heywood says. “For that couple of hours, it was just like a normal household. They could forget where they were.”

Amber, Keisha and Donte were taken to a foster home a couple of days after Christmas. They left the shelter with smiles on their faces and with bags of gifts they had received. The children were not only happy because of the gifts, but because they were able to be together and celebrate as a family.

“Separating siblings from each other in a shelter setting is almost like another victimization,” Heywood says. “The fewer the disruptions, the better.”

After the trauma of being removed from their homes, children need a consistent, predictable life at the shelter–not more heartache–before they are placed into a better living situation. “Keeping siblings together in the shelter improves family stability during awful situations,” Heywood says.

Although “Amber,” “Keisha” and “Donte” are not their real names, their story is true, and their desire to be a family and to be loved is very real. The children are now able to celebrate Christmas without violence. Amber can be a kid again. Keisha and Donte can just enjoy spending time together. They can support one another and be a family once again.