Foster and adoptive families: How you can help!

News

Thursday, 30 March 2023 09:44

Jackson County’s Foster Closet is in desperate need of donations, especially diapers of all sizes, not just newborn sizes, and wipes, diaper ointment, etc. This includes products like pull-ups for older children who are potty training. Boys and girls underwear is also needed along with socks.

The emergency closet functions as the immediate need when a child comes into care, and this can be found at DHR in Scottsboro on Bingham Street. When a child has settled into foster home, this is where Agape Baptist Church comes into play, as they have more long-term help for foster and adoptive families. Donations can also be made there.

Jackson County is also home to JLE Children’s Charities, a charity for foster children. The charity was founded by Todd Davis, the father of Kristen Higdon who is a devoted foster mother. Seeing the impact being a foster parent had on her life and the lives of the foster children, Davis felt a calling to establish some kind of organization for these children.

“When she [Kristen] started doing this, I became aware that thousands of kids each year go into foster care, and some of their stories are heartbreaking,” Davis stated. “It moved me to create a charity to help these children. I got with Kristen and we started working on it.”

“We are very thankful for these kids,” Higdon stated. “They’re great kids, and we consider ourselves blessed to have them in our lives.”

JLE provides financial help for local, vetted foster families by supplying funds for these families, including taking them shopping at Christmas.

Karen Peck and New River will be performing at a benefit singing on Saturday, April 29th at Skyline High School, 897 County Road 25, just off Alabama Highway 79. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, with all proceeds going toward JLE. To get your tickets, call Todd Davis at 256.244.1389 or Kristen Higdon at 256.244.4687.

If you have any questions about how to donate or contribute to foster children through JLE, use the above numbers as well.