The word “orphan” generally conjures up comical images of Little Orphan Annie or the heartbreaking pictures we have seen from group homes around the world. But the reality is that even in a country as blessed as ours, there are still kids who are growing up without parents- modern day orphans.
Hearing about the needs of these children is what led Jennifer and I to consider adoption and eventually to become foster parents. The first thing that I tell people when they ask about foster care is that it is probably not for everyone. In fact, I think that it is a calling God has to give you.
Nevertheless, there are some ways you can get involved in the lives of children at risk in your community. Here are just a few.
Give money
Giving donations to charities and organizations that support kids is great (see below). But what I really have in mind is much more intimate. Work to identify a family in your community that has answered the call to care for orphans as foster or adoptive parents and brainstorm ways to bless them. A local foster care licensing agency or the Guardian Ad Litem program can probably point you in the right direction.
Maybe you and a couple friends, or a group from church could pool together some money and help with Christmas or provide a unique experience for the family. There are so many ways you could help:
- Drop off a supermarket gift card
- Purchase a particular item they need (Ex. a double-stroller)
- Shoes for the new kids
- Tickets to a show or ballgame
- Diapers. Diapers. Diapers!
(The above examples are just a few of the things that people have done for us over the years.)
Get creative. I guarantee you. Anything you come up with will be greatly appreciated.
Give time
If money is a resource you can’t provide, you can offer your time. When Jennifer and I had a house full of kids, finding time for ourselves was a major challenge. We were incredibly blessed to have a group of college kids who made it their mission to give us time away. We tried to say thank you but I’m not sure our words were every quite enough to express how much their sacrifice of time meant to us.
You can do that for someone too.
Set aside one night a week (heck, it doesn’t even have to be a weekend!) and volunteer to watch the kids. If you have access to a facility like a church or community center open it up for “Foster Parents Night Out” (a great event we took advantage of started by The Avenue Church in Delray Beach.) With a little bit of planning you can make a world of difference to another family.
Give yourself
My wife knew way before I did that we were supposed to step into the world of modern day orphans. I actually drug my feet. I was scared. I didn’t know what it would entail. The truth is that being a foster parent granted me one of my highest high moments and certainly my lowest moment. But I wouldn’t trade any of it.
The only advice I can give is don’t assume God doesn’t have a role for you in caring for the kids in your community that need a loving home. Once you begin to get involved in one of the first two ways, He may actually invite you to give your whole self to the cause. And if he does, you won’t regret it either.
I’d love to hear from you! What is a creative way you have blessed another family or someone has blessed you? Use the comments section below to tell your story.
PS- Just so we are clear, my family is abundantly blessed. Find another family who can truly benefit from your help. If you are in Central or South Florida and looking for agencies to partner with I have personal experience with these organizations and I believe they represent the gold standard for caring for kids. Check them out and support their efforts!
