"Hearts to Love" A Celebration of Love Between Foster Parents and Children
/“To God’s wonderful gift, whose name is Kembe. We love you and embrace you every minute and every hour. We pray to God that he keeps you safe and to us, grant us the wisdom to be just what you need. We love you very much.”
Last month, children in our Albany foster care program received a “dedication of love” from their foster parents at our first annual “Hearts to Love” event, an event created to celebrate the love between foster parents and their foster children. Surrounded by the Inspiritus Southwest community of staff, foster parents and children, each parent stood to present certificates inscribed with their heartfelt messages of love and encouragement to each of the children in their care. Each child also received an “I Love You” teddy bear donated by Build-A-Bear in Albany.
“ Dear Madison, To a family that isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who Would do anything to see you smile and who LOVE YOU no matter what! ”
“For many of our foster children, in their past they’ve heard the word ‘love,’ but there was no action behind it. I believe they know they are loved by their foster parents, but it means more when a child gets to hear that message from the heart verbally expressed, put it in writing, and presented in front of witnesses. I think it makes it more real for child,” said Carmalete Daniels, Case Manager, Inspiritus, Albany, GA.
“Dear Cameron, We love you very much. We love the way you have matured and becoming your own man. We are so blessed that God has allowed you to be in our lives. You are such an inspiration to us and we have learned a lot from you. Can’t wait to see what your future holds! ”
Though a child’s stay in foster care is temporary, a foster parent and their care and love can have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Both the teddy bear and the certificate are items that the child can keep and treasure as they move onto the next phase of their journey.
“It is hoped that our children will keep their ‘I Love You Teddy Bear’, and when they are a little older, will pass on this ceremony by giving their bear to someone in their life they wish to express and dedicate their love to,” said Carmalete.
The event and ceremony were so well received by both the parents and the children that Inspiritus Albany plans to make the event a yearly tradition.
“I believe the kids felt special. We all want to feel special and feel loved. They felt both on that Saturday,” said Carmalete.
Our Albany office hosts monthly events designed to support foster parents and provide therapeutic enrichment opportunities for the children in care. Interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, contact Dawn McCune at dawn.mccune@weinspirit.org or 229-344-6350 to learn more or to attend an orientation. '
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our children and their families.
