A Different Story for Foster Mom & Family
During this second week of Different December, we’re highlighting a story of God at work through CarePortal. Every community has children and families in crisis. CarePortal provides a real-time, relational connection for churches who want to care for them.
Life can change in a moment. For Sherell and her extended family, new circumstances threatened to send two young family members into the foster care system. Rather than simply observing the total separation of the children from their family, Sherell chose service over convenience and welcomed the children into her home.
This choice would come with a cost. To welcome two children into the home is to commit to a beautiful chaos, requiring latitude for schedule changes, unexpected illnesses and doctor’s visits, and daily trips to daycare, among other things. With additional pressure on time and resources, Sherrell knew that this choice would be difficult.
Amidst her efforts to care for these two children, Sherrell suffered a setback. The child welfare worker working with Sherell shared the following via a CarePortal request:
“I recently started working with a foster mom, Sherell, who is caring for two children. Sherell had car problems, but thought the car could make it a bit longer while she saved money. Last month, she texted me with an emergency. The engine had blown. She found herself with both children on the side of the road. Sherell looked into renting a car until she could find a reliable one of her own, but couldn’t afford the $500 per month. In the meantime, she is now walking the toddler to daycare before she walks herself to work. This courageous lady has a full-time job and is taking great care of the two children placed with her. Sherell is not looking for a handout. She saved approximately $600 toward the purchase of a reliable vehicle. She can also make reasonable monthly payments.”
Upon receiving the need, a local church responded, hoping to encourage her in her efforts to care for these children.
Sherell was overwhelmed!
“I have been walking to daycare, renting cars, getting rides from my sis… all the while, trusting God. And look what He has done! Thank you, Jesus!”
Church congregations from Arizona to Florida are coming together to answer the needs of children and families in crisis in their local communities. All are experiencing the joys of generosity, humility, and service. As noted by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“I’ve been praying,” Sherell said. “I trust God, wholly and fully, and I didn’t know how He was going to do it, but I knew He was going to do it.”
A Different December for Children and Families in Crisis
In a season made beautiful with lights and bows, we invite you to make this a Different December by helping meet the raw, real needs of children and families in crisis around the world. Your year-end gifts help pay for the unpredictable essentials that our caretakers constantly confront: spiking food prices, emergency health and safety needs, and gaps in daily care funding for kids. As always, 100% of your tax-deductible donations go to the care of children.
To learn more about the impact of Different December giving, click here.
On behalf of the children we serve together, “thank you!”
