Currently, the Arizona Department of Economic Security reports that there are more than 17,000 in the foster care system in Arizona, but the system is critically short of families to provide shelter for kids who have been removed from unsafe homes. Of the over 17,000 foster children, 2,395 were living in congregate care rather than in a home setting. Consequently, there is a growing need for new foster parents.
What do these children want in a foster family?
They would like to feel safe and comfortable. They want clothes, shelter, their own bed, safety and food every day. They want parents who offer caring input and wise words, who take them places and teach life lessons.
Many just want to live a normal family life and have a hand to hold through laughter and through sadness.
In response to the current need for foster families, Mission Foster, a ministry of Mission Community Church, is holding their fourth annual Foster Festival on Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 3p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Mission Community Church, 4450 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert, AZ.
The festival will celebrate foster and adoptive families in the Valley, as well as help raise community awareness of the current foster care crisis in Arizona. This event is free to the public.
The festival includes a wide range of activities and entertainment for foster and adoptive families including: bounce houses, face painting, fun run obstacle course, pony rides, petting zoo, and more. In addition, several organizations will be on-site to provide resources and information for foster and adoptive families.
For more information about the Mission Foster Festival, contact Kim Watson, Lay Leader of Mission Foster at kimw@mission68.org.
