|
A Chance to Honor Those Who Open Their Hearts Lynchburg, VA - On Saturday, March 25, families from throughout the Lynchburg area were honored at the DePaul Family Services Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner. These families have opened their hearts and their homes to children, adolescents, and adults with special needs. The evening started with dinner, followed by musical entertainment by Old Stuff and then awards were given out for years of service. Those honored included Thomas and Debra Cook and George and Cynthia Hurt for serving as foster parents for five years. Ten year awards were presented to Nannette Jackson, Matthew and Kathy Jerina, Sheridan McGhee, Paul and Maria Mitchell, and Hazel Stewart. Two families were honored for serving as foster parents for 15 years or more. Gwen White is a single parent from Lynchburg and has been with DePaul Family Services since 1991. She is currently a foster mother to two children and over the past fifteen years, Gwen has opened her home to numerous children; many of whom had special needs, including behavioral, emotional, and mental disabilities. Sam & Ellaressie Austin live in Lynch Station and have been foster parents with DePaul Family Services since 1988. Over the years, they also have served as parents to many children with special needs, including those with severe mental retardation and major medical disabilities. Both these families have had major impacts in the lives of the children they serve.
"There are so many children that need a place to live and I am so grateful that these parents have opened their hearts and homes to children in need" said Paula Mehaffey, DePaul Family Services Lynchburg Branch Director. "Unfortunately, there are still so many children in the system and there just are not enough homes out there. We are always looking for more people to become foster parents."
|