Our church recently listened to a Green Lake County detective speak about Drug Awareness and Prevention. The message of "it takes a village" and the growing opioid epidemic is not just "big-city problem" started people wondering about the addict's family, especially the children. The urgency of the detective’s message became the motivation for a newly formed Comfort + Care ministry for children in crisis.
WHat is the need?
The most recent report from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families shows nearly 7,500 hundred kids were living in out-of-home care at the end of 2016, a 16-percent increase since 2012.
As of February 2018, almost 7,900 kids were living outside the home statewide, according to the state’s monthly statistics on out-of-home care.
During a recent law enforcement roundtable, Ashland County Health and Human Services Director Terry Barningham said they’re seeing more kids removed from home due to safety concerns.
“I think the amount of children in placement has almost doubled from a year ago.
The majority of those cases are all drug-related.”
we are called to care through action
It is this ministry's intent to offer reassurance to children who are placed in foster care, with a tote bag holding a few hand-crafted items of comfort containing
the message "We Care About You." One tote carries our logo and another tote option is individualized for children to share their favorite things!
Included inside our custom "Comfort + Care" designed totes are:
a new hand-sewn pillowcase
a new blanket
a hand-sewn or new stuffed animal
a book or journal to compliment age and gender of child
Volunteer
If you are interested in sharing your talents to create items to be placed in our tote bags please contact us. We appreciate volunteers! There are several ongoing projects that continue to help facilitate this ministry.
Donate
As volunteers are making each piece for the bag they are asked to reflect on and pray for the child who will be holding the items from the tote bag. For that reason we cannot accept used items, but will instead keep a list of items people wish to donate, which may be needed down the road. Cash donations are always welcome to further this ministry.
If you would like to "buy a bag to give a bag or donate towards this ministry you can do so here.
we are called to care through prayer
It is also this ministry's intent to encourage prayer for each child who will be holding the hand-crafted items.
We ask you to pray for:
PROTECTION. Ask God to keep them safe in this increasingly unsafe world. That He will protect their minds and bodies from wickedness and harm.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say
to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." - Psalm 91:1-2
PROVISION. Ask God to provide for all that they need – for loving and caring parents and other adults, to show them the love of Jesus by being a part of their life.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19
HOPE. Ask God to give them the hope that comes from above – the kind that far exceeds what we have in the here and now. Ask God to place caring Christians in their life to help guide them to that hope. Further that their parents or guardians will be restored in good health and, if God's will, one day be reunited.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13
PEACE. Ask that they experience peace and calm as they go through their day, and in their sleep at night.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7