Local non-profit observes May as Foster Care Awareness Month

JACKSON, TN (WNBJ) - The month of May is Foster Care Awareness Month. Youth Villages in Jackson has spent the entire month raising awareness and fundraising for children in the foster care system.

The non-profit agency works to place children with the right family.

This awareness month was established to recognize the important role and dedication of foster parents.

“More than ever, we need foster parents. We have come out of this pandemic and we have more kids in care than we’ve ever had. There’s approximately eight thousand kids in the state of Tennessee in care, eight thousand. We only have four thousand foster homes in the state of Tennessee. That’s a huge difference so Foster Care Awareness Month is something we want to carry on throughout the year because it’s such a great need,” said Donna Goodman, the Senior Trainer, and Recruiter at Youth Villages.

Donna says just in Madison county there are 70 plus children that need to be placed in foster homes.

One family in Camden, Tennessee made the decision to adopt and they believe their faith led them to open their home and hearts to their two adoptive sons.

“My husband and I and our relationship with Christ, you know his purpose was love. Our walk with God, we just felt like it was the best way to show forth the love of God and our relationship with him,” said Ashley Reichard, a foster care parent.

Ashley says adopting has been one of the best decisions of her life and the experience is so rewarding.

“My children, seeing them flourish in the stability of a loving home and be able to love you back without fear is the best thing,” said Ashley.

Youth Villages believes everyone can pitch in and do something to help children who are in foster care.

Today, there is a Youth Villages fundraiser event at Marco's Pizza on Vann Drive in Jackson. When you buy a slice of pizza a portion of the proceeds will help children in the foster care system locally.