RivCo Volunteers Create Foster Youths' Senior Portraits

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- About 40 volunteers, including makeup artists, hair stylists and photographers converged on Jensen Alvarado Ranch and Museum in Riverside earlier this month to help create senior portraits for foster children preparing to graduate high school in May.

“It’s amazing,” said 18-year-old Melissa Sauceda, a senior at Rancho Verde High School. “All of us don’t have the support and money to do it ourselves. We don’t have our parents so just to have volunteers to do it for free is just a great feeling.”

A behind-the-scenes video of the volunteer effort can be viewed below.

The event, known as "High School Senior Portrait Day,” started five years ago with a dozen students. This year 60 kids signed up. DPSS Children’s Services Regional Manager Michelle Wohl said returning caretakers who bring students from all over Riverside County helped the event grow.

The foster youth ranged from age 17 to 20 and came from several school districts and communities across Riverside County, including Moreno Valley, Indio, Perris and Beaumont.

This year DPSS signed a contract with Riverside County Regional Parks. With help from park rangers and Jensen Alvarado Ranch and Museum, foster youth teamed up with volunteers to spend the entire day preparing for senior pictures.

“It really gives us the opportunity to talk with the community about the awesome things that happen in child welfare,” Wohl said.