Help foster dignity for foster kids

   Three years ago I worked with Carla Carter in an after school program at a Lilburn church. Everyday 50 kids stormed down the stairway, shoving and shouting. Everyday, Carla marched her 4’11” self in front of them, told them to be quiet and created instant silence. And everyday she told me, “Someday I’m going to open my own pre-school and you’re going to write about me.” I never doubted her on either count.

   Last week I got an e-mail from Carla with “Noah’s Arc” in the subject line. She did it, I thought! I knew she loved the theme of Noah’s Ark and God’s promise, and thought for sure her pre-school dream had come true. But when I clicked open her message, I discovered that at least for now, Carla’s life has taken a totally different direction.

   When I worked with Carla, she had one 14-yar-old son, Cameron. She and her husband, Nathaniel, have since adopted three foster children, Nat, age three, Kayla, age two and Andre’, age one, and are now full time advocates for foster parents and foster children.

   “We discovered gaps in the system,” said Carla. “There are services out there, but not nearly enough resources to cover all the children’s needs. We’ve experienced a lot of frustration through this journey, but God has put a lot of people in our lives to guide us to where we are now.”

   Through Noah’s Arc (Adoption Resource Center) the Carters strive to fulfill a promise to all foster children that they can grow up in an environment as close to home as possible.

   Noah’s Arc projects include support groups for foster parents and foster children, a Bundle of Love program, which provides a bag full of clothing and toiletries for foster children and a campaign to collect a million diapers to cover foster babies’ bottoms. Their most current mission, in keeping with Governor Perdue’s designation of September as Foster Children’s Month, is their first annual Fun Walk and Roll at the International Horse Park in Conyers this coming Saturday. The goal is to purchase duffle bags for at least 300 of the 15,000 Georgia children in foster care.

   “It’s not easy being a foster child,” said Carla. “They’re living with strangers and being bounced from school to school, and all they have to carry their possessions in is a trash bag. A trash bag is something you associate with a hobo. You don’t know what a devastating effect that has on a child.”

   To take part in the fun run, or donate a duffle bag, visit www.yournoahsarc.org or call 678-521-4545. Carla may not have started her own preschool (yet,) but I assure you, her 4’11” self commands attention no matter what she does!

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