A new nonprofit in Whiteland wants to help foster families get the support they need when they have a child in their home. The group is planning a Christmas party to give gifts to foster children.
Resources of Hope began earlier this year when Summer Huber began organizing donations and doling out clothing to foster parents who had the need, said Heath Brant, a volunteer for the organization. Foster parents in the area would often get placements in the middle of the night and not always have enough clothing and other supplies at the time, he said.
Now, Resources of Hope is trying to grow to offer trainings and support for the entire foster family, including the foster parents and their biological children.
Their most recent focus is to ensure local foster children and their foster families have a merry Christmas. Eighty children have already registered for a Christmas party and organizers believe they may be able to help about 160 children total, Brant said.
Resources of Hope is collecting pajamas and toys at multiple sites across the county. The donations will be gift wrapped and given to foster children and their foster siblings at a Christmas party on Dec. 9. The organization is also seeking volunteers to help wrap the gifts on Dec. 8.
Though it started in Whiteland, the organization is beginning to reach across the county, Brant said. The student cheering section at basketball games at Franklin Community High School are hosting a pajama night on Nov. 30, where people are encouraged to wear pajamas to both the boys and girls basketball game and donate pajamas to the Christmas party cause.
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Resources of Hope is seeking donations of toys and pajamas to give to foster children and their foster parent’s biological children.
Here is how to get involved:
Drop a toy or pajama donation at the following sites:
- Century 21 Scheetz, 1533 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Greenwood.
- Anytime Fitness, 1642 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Greenwood.
- ATI Pyhsical Therapy, 642 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Greenwood.
- Resources of Hope office, 410 U.S. 31 Whiteland.
- Greenwood Gentle Dentist, 1642 S. Olive Branch Parke Lane, Suite 700, Greenwood.
- RNR Tires, 55 S. Morton St., Franklin.
- Canary Creek Cinemas, 870 Mallory Parkway, Franklin.
- Franklin College, 501 E. Monroe St., Franklin.
- One Click Ventures, 1300 Windhorst Way Greenwood.
- Toodleydoo Toys, 1 W. Jefferson St., Franklin.
- Greenwood Fire Department headquarters, 155 E. Main St. (This location will only accept pajamas).
- Union Savings Bank, 91 Byrd Way Greenwood
- The Grill Bar, 138 E. Jefferson St., Franklin.
Donation boxes will also be set up at outside Toodleydoo Toys and the Artcraft Theatre during the Franklin tree lighting Dec. 1.
Volunteers are needed to wrap the gifts ahead of the party. The gifts will be wrapped from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 8. This event requires RSVP, which can be done by finding the event on www.facebook.com/ResourcesofHope/
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