#WearBLUEMay2 campaign seeks to support foster children

People are being asked to wear blue on Wednesday as part of a campaign to raise awareness and support for those affected by foster care.

The #WearBLUEMay2 campaign is being promoted by the Agape House Children’s Home, which is a nonprofit group foster home in El Dorado that serves foster children in and around Union County who are unable to live in their homes due to abuse, neglect or other life events. According to the Agape House, roughly 4,900 children are currently in foster care in Arkansas.

May is also National Foster Care Month, and in Union County, at the end of the 2017 state fiscal year, there were 132 children in foster care, most of whom were 11 years old or under. Union County had the second highest number of children in foster care in area 4, which includes Columbia, Hempstead, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita and Sevier counties. Only Miller County had a higher number with 189 children in foster care.

Union County Judge Mike Loftin will read a proclamation at noon Wednesday declaring the day as Foster Care Awareness Day. The proclamation will be read on the east side of the Union County Courthouse.

“Our hope is that everyone in our community will wear blue on this one day, unifying the community in its commitment to support everyone affected by foster care,” states a release from the Agape House.

Those who wear blue on Wednesday are asked to take a picture and post it on the Agape House Children’s Home Facebook page using #WearBLUEMay2.