The shock of an awful situation
Imagine being taken from your home, without warning, by strangers. Let’s also imagine it’s late night, you’re wearing jammies and it’s cold outside. The strangers put you in an unfamiliar vehicle and haul you away, leaving you at a strange house, with people you don’t know.
This process would be frightening for an adult, even more so for a child. As of 2022, there are nearly half a million kids in foster care--407, 000. Of those, 34% are placed with “relatives or kin”, per the statistics available via childwelfare.gov.
Understanding the challenges of being taken and then delivered to a strange place and being cared for by strangers, is exactly what birthed the Isaiah 1:17 Project.
The project came about in 2017, a dream come to life, for Cameron and Marcia Lambert, foster parents since 2012, and well-acquainted with the struggles of children entering foster care homes as well as the challenges to provide everything they need, quickly.
As stated on their website, children often arrive with nothing but what they’re wearing and in many cases, those clothes aren’t even useable. Initially, the project team provided Blessing Bags, containing clothing, snacks and comfort items for the children. As time went by, the project gained ground and developed into so much more!
Currently, the project provides the following...
It's always a great time to be thankful!
Not long ago I was privileged to attend a meeting with several of the project team members at a monthly meeting, where I learned so much about this amazing program and the help it’s providing Southern Indiana families involved in foster care.
Right here, I want to thank the project members for welcoming me and allowing me to get acquainted with the project. Also, a big thanks to Port Side Coffee for hosting us, and to Dr. Tamara K. Miley for introducing me to the group!
I would also like to thank Kathleen Elliot, the program manager of Fortifying Foster Families, for welcoming me to the meeting and after, providing me with a tour of their facility in downtown Princeton, Indiana.
Everyone I met was kind and enthusiastic in their support of the program and the families it serves. Their office and storage areas were well maintained and organized, even tho it was the Christmas season. The amount of work that must have gone into the holiday prep must have been enormous. While I was there, one team member was hard at work in the effort, all the while, engaging with me in friendly conversation, explaining about the items the children and their foster families would receive.
I was sincerely moved by all aspects of the Isaiah 1:17 Project and plan to continue to be involved in its support, and praying for favor and continued success in their endeavors.
I encourage you to please get familiar with them, even if they’re not serving your area. The mechanics of the project could be built in nearly any community, where there’s a desire to improve and be a blessing to the families in the foster care system.
For more information, please reach out to them. They’d love to hear from you!
Call: (812) 386-0117 or email info@theisaiah117project.org.
If you belong to a church or social group, inviting one of the project’s team members to speak at one of your meetings would be a wonderful way of getting acquainted with the program, as well as introducing them to your community.
At the very least, please lift the project in prayer. Prayer launched from a burden and love is one of the best helps you can provide.
Learn to do well.
Seek justice.
Relieve the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless.
Plead for the widow.
Isaiah 1:17
(World Messianic Bible Translation)
The wrap!
Thank you for your visit and your interaction with the independent blogging community is always appreciated!
‘Til next time,
Shalom!
