The Silent Crisis

There is a silent crisis in Virginia. A crisis that if you knew about it, you would feel so compelled to help that you'd be reaching for the phone or your checkbook before you even knew it. What am I talking about? I'll tell you in just a minute. But first let me tell you a quick story.

Susie and her sister Claire live with their mom and dad. Life at home is not happy. The sisters are hungry. So hungry that they have that gnawing feeling in their tummies. They are frequently absent from school because no one requires them to go. Every night the sisters go to bed scared because their dad has had a few too many drinks and has a temper. They fall asleep holding hands in the twin bed they share. In the morning, they wake up and their mom doesn't remember what day it is or who they are.

Susie and Claire represent the more than 5,000 children in the foster care system at any given time in Virginia. Children and teens come into the "system" typically because of abuse and neglect.

This is the crisis we face in Virginia. In Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties there are 446 children in the foster care system. These kids need loving adults in their lives who can help them overcome the fear of being hungry. The fear of closing their eyes to go to sleep. The fear of being alone and lost.

At United Methodist Family Services, where I work, this is what we do. We find kind, loving and supportive foster parents to wrap their arms around these teenagers, siblings or special needs kids and show them that there are adults out there who care about them.  We need more of those loving arms!

Could you help ease the fears of a child or teen by giving them an adult to trust and to love? Contact UMFS at 540-898-1773.