We have an immediate need.  There are more than 14,000 children in Georgia living in foster care (click for video) who need our help. These children have been abused or severely neglected. Protective services removed them from their homes and placed them into temporary foster families where they are receiving loving care. They need love and guidance to thrive during their remaining childhood years and to reach their future goals.  We know all too well the challenges people on all economic levels are facing at this time but I need to ask you an important question.  Can our kids in need wait for the economy to get better before they are given a shot at greater opportunities?

Loving parents and a stable environment are the keys to get these kids "back in the game". Without loving parents and a stable home, they will age-out of the foster care system and join the national statistics: only about 50% will graduate from high school; 20% will become homeless; and 25% will become incarcerated within two years.  As kids age-out of foster care, many turn to a life of crime or drugs to survive.  They become highly vulnerable to gangs and trafficking.

Bethany is called to help these children now!

Our adoption and foster care programs help foster care kids and their parents build strong families. It’s the first priority to reunify children with their birthfamilies when possible. Foster care provides a temporary safe haven and prepares the child for a safe return to biological parents. When returning to biological parents is not possible, sadly parental rights may be terminated. Bethany also provides the joy of a permanent, loving adoptive family. If adoption is not possible, Bethany can provide essential life skills training so the child can be more independent when “aging out” of foster care. Each option strives to give children the best shot for the future, while providing the stability they need at this critical time.

Can you join me with a gift of any amount by 12/31/09 to help raise $35,000?  I’m starting with my personal gift of $150.  Here are a few great ways your gift can help right now:

$30 Gift could provide a Care Package for one child who has been abruptly removed from their home without any belongings:  one T-shirt & pair of underwear, toothbrush & paste, and a few other essential items.

$120 Gift could provide Summer Camp or help with

          Recruitment of Foster/Adoptive Parents.

$500 Gift could provide Trauma therapy to help the child heal from past abuse, grow into healthy relationship attachments, and focus for school performance.

We'd like to thank you for each gift received with a small Bethany logo token gift: Pen for a $50 gift, Pocket calculator for a $100 gift, Travel mug for $250 gift, and Baseball cap for $500 gift.  We hope that each time you use it you are reminded of the support you provided to the most vulnerable children in our community.

Note: if you'd like a token gift, please write it in the comments section after you enter your gift payment information.

It will take more than you & I to achieve this goal!  Please share this information with 5 friends so they can be a part of "Giving Kids A Shot" too!  It’s so easy to link this webpage to your Facebook page, or send the link in an e-mail.

LINK:   http://www.firstgiving.com/helpingkidsinGeorgia

Please call us at 706-576-5766 if you’d like to know more, or to pledge and send your gift via check.

God Bless You
Sharon Billingslea
Director, Bethany Columbus, Georgia