How’s your summer going? Getting a good tan at the beach? Kids having fun?
For many children in San Diego, the only tan they’ll get is a tanned behind—and not because they’re misbehaving, but because they’re unwanted. They are seen as in the way, an interruption to “life”.
Not only are the group foster homes full, but numerous babies and toddlers are also without a family. Many of these little ones are battered and abused. There simply are not enough foster families to take them in.
The Angel Foster Family Network—a private, non-profit agency that has won many awards for their selfless work—finds themselves turning away battered infants and toddlers because there aren’t enough loving families to take them in.
We’re talking about San Diego County, the land of sunshine, beauty, pleasure, huge mansions and wealth (yeah, there’s still plenty of it in this neck of the woods in spite of the acute local economic crisis). Oh, and San Diego is also renowned for its Christian population, harboring some of the largest churches in the world.
How is it, then, that babies are left homeless in San Diego County?
The Bible reveals God’s grace, His love for mankind and the depth of man’s depravity. The depravity of mankind is what puts these children in their precarious situations in the first place. His selfishness is what keeps them there.
Sound harsh? Think about it. As Sleep Train so often proclaims, “Not everyone can be a foster parent, but anyone can help a foster child”. Words of truth! Everyone / anyone can do something to help.
*You can help a family who is fostering or adopted children. Offer to babysit, or take the kids for a special treat, or cook an occasional meal…
*You can provide clothes and toys for needy children. (Sleep Train takes new clothes and toys for foster kids.)
*You can mentor an older foster child.
*You can pray, join or start a prayer group for foster kids.
*You can support a local foster non-profit.
*You can become a foster parent. Or, better still, adopt. (Note—it is free to adopt through the foster system.)
*You can spread the word for the need for foster parents, get informed and share the info.
If you know of anyone in San Diego County who might be interested in fostering an infant or toddler at this time, have them contact Angels Foster Family Network at 619-283-8100 or online at www.angelsfoster.org.
For more info on adopting, check out the adoption page on the Orphans First website.
Janey DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © July 2011
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