All Our Kids launches Foster Care Awareness Campaign during Foster Care Awareness Month
'For one, you don't necessarily know the children in your care. So learning and understanding what their needs are and how to meet them is a huge challenge,' said Marianna Litovich, Founder & Executive Director, AOK in Holyoke.
For some families, it can be unplanned or unexpected. 'We are called what's considered kinship foster care. So we came forward for a child specifically that was identified in our lives that needed placement,' said Wendy Provost, Foster Parent in Ludlow.
In 2018, the Provost family fully immersed itself in adopting a child. Despite working alongside social workers for four years, they dealt with loneliness for several months. No one could share a similar experience with them. Things changed once 'All Our Kids invited families to a Christmas event in December.
'I'll never forget it, it made me cry at the event, because it was just like meeting the needs that I needed,' said Provost.
Each year, the non-profit, All Our Kids, helps to serve more than 2000 individuals with the support of community donations.
'Unlike a very populated place like Boson or Worcester, our population is only like 7% of the state, but we have about a quarter of the kids in care and so its really important that we make sure we do everything we can to keep those families who are foster families involved and engaged and not lose them,' said Litovich.
Which is why employees at PeoplesBank came together to donate $2,500 to the AOK's mission.
'We want to get the word out there, so people feel part of a community and not as isolated,' said Matthew Bannister, SVP of Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at PeoplesBank.
Their donation is kicking off AOK's Foster Care Awareness Campaign to support the community center, referral services, and community closest.
With no state funding, the organization hopes to raise about $100,000 by the end of the year.
You can also support AOK by donating new and gently used items or by volunteering.
Local News Headlines
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