There is no substitute for family, and a young person raised in foster care hoped to find one among a couple of potential car buyers he met last year. The Wilkinson family’s emotional reaction to salesperson Davon Woods’ recorded message asking them to become his “forever family” and whether he could take their last name is captured on video. In April 2021, the Wilkinson family drove away from the lot with a car and a new friend. Woods, 27, said he had no relationship with either of his parents while growing up in the foster care system. When Sarah Wilkonson learned of this, she and her parents made every effort to contact Woods whenever possible, according to Goodnewsnetwork.
Davon was invited to join them for dinner on his birthday in August 2021, as well as Thanksgiving later that year, at their home in Savannah, Georgia. More than a year after they first met, Woods asked to join the family. Despite the lack of a formal adoption procedure, the Wilkinson family now loves Davon as if he were family, and they have granted him permission to use the name Davon Wilkinson. “It was weird to be in a loving environment. I’ve never had a relationship with any parents ever, adoptive or biological,” said Woods. “It was something I’d always wanted. I’ve always wanted to say ‘this is my family.’”
Davon founded Foster Kids Matter, an organization dedicated to assisting foster children in Georgia, after quitting his job. “I was inspired to become a foster kids advocate. If I hadn’t had that experience I would never have done it,” he added. “When you go without love for a long time and are presented with it, it’s weird. It feels like you’re starting a new job,” he continued. “I spend holidays with them, and I know my kids will never be short on family with them around,” Davon said. “It was very emotional to me because they gave me love that I’ve never received, and often we think because of the color of our skin, we’re supposed to be separate, but I’m blessed to have them in my life.”
The story of Davon and his brother Tavon, on the other hand, was not a fairytale. Before they were born, the odds were stacked against Daquane Shamar Jacobs and Tavon Lamar Jacobs.
Their biological mother had no idea she was pregnant with twins. Because she received no prenatal care and used narcotics while pregnant, her babies were born addicted to crack and weighing only 2 pounds. The infants were immediately removed from her custody and placed in foster care. The boys were adopted by the Woods family when they were two years old, and they were given the names Davon and Tavon Woods. Any foster child’s desire to be adopted is common, but living with the Woods family was far from ideal, according to InspireMore.
“We had a very difficult childhood with our adoptive family,” Davon explained. “We got physically and verbally abused, we were never given a voice, and they never once told us they loved us. It felt like we were just a paycheck, but we were too young and afraid to tell anyone what was happening at home.”
Unfortunately, the lack of family history and encouragement led to both boys rebelling as teenagers. To cope with the pain, they turned to drugs, almost dropped out of school, and Davon attempted suicide several times. The only thing that kept him from acting was the thought of his brother being alone in the world without him. Davon considers his time with the Wilkinsons to be a blessing for which he is grateful. Many of us are prone to taking family for granted. Davon’s story is a beautiful reminder of the importance of experiencing love and support in our lives, as well as extending that love and support to those in need.