I'd like to talk to you folks about something that I hold near and dear to my heart. I'm not a foster kid myself, but my home is a foster home, and I have seen some wonderful children in my lifetime. Unfortunately, some of the older ones will probably never be adopted because the younger, cuter babies will often be adopted first. But there are older kids out there who would make any mom and dad proud -- kids who have been jostled around from home to home their entire lives and just want a permanent place to lay their heads and some folks to call "Mom and Dad."
Patty McIrvin talked about being a hero by donating blood (July 7), but being a parent to a child is another valuable way to be a hero in your community. For information on foster care or adoption in Greensboro, call 641-7632 or (866) 812-3125. Please, call today and give a child a place to call home.
Jenelle Peterson
Greensboro
Comments (6)
Jenelle,
You are a hero! Thanks for doing the hard work that so many ignore.
Posted by jim | July 14, 2005 6:50 AM
Jenelle:
Awesome. I am glad there are people like you out there.
Posted by gaytony | July 14, 2005 8:27 AM
This is truly a heoric thing that Ms. Peterson purposes. Sadly though, adoption is only allowed to a select group of our populice even though there is another group that can AND would make wonderful parents. However, that is another issue for another letter!
Posted by Darryl | July 14, 2005 8:39 AM
All children need love and I'm glad that you wrote this letter, Jenelle. Thank you for what you have done.
Posted by truth | July 14, 2005 10:25 AM
Response to -gaytony- and anyone who is interested. I read your post and I'm not sure if you are aware of the type of "heroes" who do this. There is a national campaign going on now promoting that "You Don't Have to be Perfect to be a Perfect Parent". This is the truth, parents who adopt our children out of the state welfare system are from all types of backgrounds. You don't have to be rich. You don't have to own a home and you can even live in an apartment. You don't have to be married. You don't have to have a degree. And of course, you don't have to be perfect. All that these children are looking for is someone who is willing to go the extra mile for them, someone who, when the going gets tough, will stand by them. Someone who can and will offer them something that they have never had, stability. An interested family has to be willing to go through training, have background checks done, home assessments done, medical check-ups, first aid and CPR training and be able to provide identification documents. Also, you must have adequate income to be able to support yourself without relying on foster care board payments.
The joy that you will get from loving a child, far out-weighs what you have to do to get there.
Ms. Toby Bass
Posted by missbass | July 14, 2005 1:35 PM
janelle, you're an angel from heaven. i fostered for many years up north, and the rewards of having these kids in my life are innumerable. we adopted two, and two have 'grown up' and come to live with us again while they attend college. to look at their faces every day, to hug them, talk with them, see the wonderful people they've become....there is no greater joy. i wish you many many more years of it!
Posted by beth | July 14, 2005 11:56 PM