-
Times-Courier
There are more than 60 children in foster care in Gilmer County and only 15 local foster families with whom they can be placed. There is always a need around Christmastime for those foster parents to be helped with gifts of clothes and toys for the kids in their care.
Sarah Mooney, of the Department of Family and Children Services, works in conjunction with Child Protective Services and also oversees the foster child program. She said half the children in foster care have to be placed outside Gilmer. She was asked how community members could help ensure foster kids placed here enjoy a Merry Christmas, and also have other needs met.
“We don’t really have a lot of teenagers right now, it’s mainly babies to middle-school age kids,” she detailed. “There’s always a need for diapers and wipes. We also have a clothes closet at the office, and clothes for middle schoolers are needed right now. Once we have to go and get kids, they come to us literally with the clothes on their backs. So we give them a couple of outfits and some pajamas to get them through a couple of nights until the foster parents can go out and get them some stuff.”
When asked about clothing sizes, Mooney replied, “Up to ‘large’ in kids … elementary-age kids are the ones we go through (in clothes) the fastest, boys and girls.”
Toys are always needed for the ages mentioned above at Christmas, she added. Monetary donations to help foster parents buy toys and clothes at Christmas are also welcome. Checks should be made out to “Fostering Roots” and mailed to 222 Highland Crossing, Suite 100, Ellijay, GA 30540. Financial donations to Fostering Roots are tax-deductible.
Those who desire to bring toys, clothes or toiletry items by the DFACS office should contact Mooney first at 706-889-2441, or send her an email at sarah.mooney@dhs.ga.gov.