Dear Friends of Our Kids in Care,
There is no planning when a child needs to be removed from a potentially dangerous living situation. Frequently, children arrive in foster placements with nothing but the clothes on their backs. If they are "lucky," they may have a black garbage bag with whatever the case worker who picked them up was able to grab on the way out the door. And the next morning, many of these kids have to go to school. With no sleep, no clean clothes and no backpacks... (click here to read attachment)
Check out this inspiring article about the contagious way that two foster parents in Massachusetts joined together with others in their communities to help meet the basic needs of kids placed into foster homes.
Can we find ways to follow their example to mobilize our communities to provide similar help?
Together let's begin donation drives to be able to provide backpacks with two outfits, pajamas, hygiene products, socks, underwear, and a toy/activity appropriate for a child aged 0-17 years old!
What congregation or organization can you invite to help collect these needed items? Ask people to donate baby/children's gently used or new clothing,diapers, backpacks, outerwear, new books, gift cards and any personal care items. Bring items to our upcoming FCC meetings. Or, drop off at our Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care office at First Presbyterian Church, 1669 West Maple Rd., Birmingham, 48084.
Can you organize a packing party and invite helpers of all ages to create these emergency packets? How about inviting some friends or co-workers together to assemble these foster care bags? This is a great activity to do with younger children and, as many of us know, service activities for younger kids are few and far between. Please attach a small tag noting the age, gender and season. What a great project for church groups, scout groups, book clubs and families!
UPCOMING GATHERINGS OF OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES COALITION ON FOSTER CARE
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 5-7 PM HEART OF DETROIT FCC, Fellowship Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Drive, Detroit TOPIC: Back to School Special-Expungements: Clear Your Record so you can apply for student loans and jobs. Guest Speaker, The Honorable Deborah Thomas, Third District Circuit Court. Contact director Berlinda Good, 248-875-3181, bgood20@aol.com
Thursday, September 19, 2019, Upper Michigan FCC Region Golf Outing at Grayling Country Club 9 AM Registration; 10:00 Shotgun start. 4 Person scramble. benefitting foster care children/families in Crawford/Oscoda/Otsego counties. Breakfast, lunch, golf cart, 18 holes, range balls included. Contact Donna Mooney for details.
Saturday, September 21, 2019 11am - 2pm MACOMB COUNTY FCC region, Renewal Church, 11174 E. 13 Mile Rd Warren, MI 48093 FALL HAUL for Macomb Foster Closet (click here for flyer). Donations needed such as Clothing (Infants - adults), Shoes, Coats, New Socks, New Underwear, Pajamas, Duffel Bags, Carriers, Toiletries, Toys, Strollers, Cribs, Baby Bottles, Diapers, Gift Cards. For further information contact: Sarah Vandervest * svandervest@renewalwarren.com or Pastor Wayne Stapleton * wstapleton@renewalwarren.com, or call (586) - 751- 0440 Think about starting your donation drives NOW in your local congregations and organizations.
TUESDAY, October 1, 2019 5-7 PM HEART OF DETROIT FCC, Fellowship Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Drive, Detroit TOPIC: Speaker: Contact director Berlinda Good, 248-875-3181, bgood20@aol.com
October 7, 2019, 6:15 PM, WESTERN WAYNE/OAKLAND COUNTIES FCC REGION, First Presbyterian Church, 701 Church St, Plymouth, MI 48170
Hear about the new partnerships of I Care4Kids and ways we can all work together to help fill in the gaps when kids enter into foster care. Presenters: Khadija Walker Fobbs and Will Fobbs, dynamic leaders of The New Foster Care. All are encouraged to bring almost new Halloween costumes (no masks or violence theme) to give to children in foster care. Our goal is 100 costumes. Contact: Peggy Fisher-Kmieciak, pfk75@hotmail.com; Sheila Henderson, rjsah@sbcglobal.net
October, TBD Northwestern Wayne County, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 5-7 PM HEART OF DETROIT FCC, Fellowship Chapel, 7707 W. Outer Drive, Detroit TOPIC: Speaker: Contact director Berlinda Good, 248-875-3181, bgood20@aol.com
Blessings,