TERRE HAUTE —
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
Separated from their families, and sometimes their siblings, children who enter Indiana’s foster care program can have a difficult time adjusting to such experiences in their young lives.
A Terre Haute area church has found a way to help children in that situation by establishing the Fostering Hope Orphan Ministry.
Coordinators Jenny and Chris Kocher have organized members of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church to make the journey of orphans and their caregivers easier. The ministry collects children’s clothing and personal care supplies such as diapers, baby wipes and formula that can be issued to foster families. Church members have made soft, warm blankets to be paired with donated stuffed animals to be given to children during the transition into foster care.
“We’ve just always had a heart for orphans,” Jenny said recently, talking about the origins of the ministry.
The Kochers have adopted two children from Asia, and were considering adopting a third child when they learned that the international adoption rules had changed. That’s when they looked into fostering children to adopt.
“The ministry aspect of it was born from that,” Jenny said. “What can we do to help the kids who are in our community, and to help those who are fostering those children?”
Kocher said she met with leaders from the Department of Child Services in Vigo County, and learned what was needed to get a child through the first nights of transition into foster care.
The Kochers approached the church pastor with the proposed ministry and received approval. The congregation then stepped up with support, donating new or gently used stuffed animals and making fleece blankets. Between 50 to 60 blankets were made in December during a family-oriented Advent event called the Blankets of Love project.
The blankets and stuffed animals were tied together, then the ministry team prayed over them. Members of the church were also asked to pray for each child who receives a blanket.
Indiana has about 300 Hoosier children in foster care who need a “forever” home.
The problems these orphans face were not caused by them; many are victims of neglect or abuse. The main challenge for these children once they enter the state’s foster care program is the need for a “forever” family to adopt them.
Pam Connelly, director of Vigo County DCS, said her office is pleased that the orphan ministry is trying to help children who can often take nothing with them when they are removed from their homes by Child Protective Services.
“The blankets and animals give the children something they can hug and hold on to,” Connelly said. “It’s comforting. And it’s good for our workers to have someting to give them.”
Just recently, the ministry team took a second van load of blankets, diapers, socks, underwear, and other items to the DCS office where it can be inventoried so that case managers can track where the donations go.
“We are so grateful for the support from the community,” Connelly said.
Due to the economy, the agency has seen an increase in neglect and abuse cases, she said. Most neglect stems from the abuse of prescription drugs, methamphetamine and alcohol.
“We do not have near enough foster homes to accomodate the children we have in care,” Connelly said. “We have a big need for minority foster families and for those willing to take bigger groups of siblings, as well as special needs children.”
In the short time that the orphan ministry has been operating, it has also grown in outreach to the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility at Carlisle. Some prisoners at the facility are allowed to make quilts to donate to community projects, and the orphan ministry received several other those. In return, Kocher said, ministry members hope to participate in Project Sunshine at the state prison to spruce up the father and child visitation area.
The ministry also supports a pastor in Greene County who is providing aid to several families with multiple children living in low-income situations.
Another success from the congregation, Kocher said, is the donation of coupons for the purchase of diapers, wipes, formula and other supplies as a type of “extreme couponing” effort.
Fortunately, Kocher said, she has a bonus room at her home that has become the repository of the supplies, blankets, clothes and other donations.
“Our congregation has done a wonderful job supporting this ministry with many donations,” she said.
The youth of the congregation have also gotten excited about the orphan project. Many youngsters participated in the fleece blanket-making project, and the high school youth are presenting an advocacy and awareness week of events from Feb. 19 to 26.
A part of the week will be the hosting of the Indiana Heart Gallery, which highlights some of the children available for adoption from the state’s foster care system.
Anyone wanting more information about the Fostering Hope Orphan Ministry can contact Mount Pleasant Church at (812) 232-4808, send an email to MtPleasant
OrphanMinistry@gmail.com, or go online to www.Facebook.com/MtPleasantOrphanMinistry.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Delivery detail: Some of the items delivered to the Child Protective Services office by members of the Mount Pleasant Church.
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Delivery: Mount Pleasant Church volunteers deliver children's items to the Department of Child Services for distribution to needy children.
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Spokesperson: Department of Child Services Pam Connelly talks about the Mount Pleasant Church volunteers and what they provide for the DCS.
Discussion
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
Ministry working to help orphans, caregivers
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