Tracy King takes Supermom concept to whole new level
Small children and babies with no other hope find a loving refuge
“I am a mother at heart and it is my joy to love these children and be there for them in their most intense time of need.”
These are the words of Tracy King, who has spent the last 12 years caring for, supporting and loving abandoned and neglected children.
King and her family established the Kings Children’s Home in Glen Eden in 2008 after an abandoned eight-weekold baby was brought to them. King has not looked back. “We ended up adopting him. Through that incident we became aware of the plight of abandoned children in our wider community and opened our hearts and our home to take in more children,” she said.
The home cares for 40 children from birth to seven years old, offering a safe place, meals, clothing, schooling and a tremendous amount of love.
“The main aim is to provide an immediate place of safety for children who find themselves abandoned or in vulnerable or abusive situations,” she said.
“We care for [them] by providing food, clothing, education, therapeutic services and love and support while social workers work with their families and try to reunite them.”
She said if reunification was not possible, social workers aimed to find foster or adoptive families.
“Sometimes this process can take months or years,” said King, who has taken the role of “supermom” to a new level.
She is available all day, every day for all the children’s needs — whether it’s a snotty nose, a scraped knee or small arms reaching up for a hug.
“There is no ‘down time’ from this work ... you are on call 24/7, 365 days a year,” she said.
Many of the children brought to the Kings Children’s Home come from horrible situations.
“One can become very emotional because of the severity of the children’s cases,” she said.
Over the years, she, her staff and the many dedicated volunteers have cared for, loved and housed more than 250 children.
Throughout the journey, King and her husband have adopted a number of children.
“We have nine of our own — three biological and six adopted.
“My greatest reward is seeing children find their healing emotionally while in our care.
“When children learn to trust again or can look at you and say that they love you, then you know that you have achieved something that you cannot put a price on.”
The home relies solely on donations from the public, and receives no government funding.
“My greatest challenge is receiving no financial support from the social development department, so we have to rely on the goodwill of people to keep running.
“My motivation comes from my faith as well as my passion for children. I have a good support system around me and incredible staff who catch the vision with me.”
She said there was no greater feeling than being a “mom” and giving love to the children.
“Seeing our children develop into their full potential and grow into beautiful, healthy children is my greatest reward.
“Many of our older children, who left us years ago and are thriving in families, still phone me on Mother’s Day and call me their mom.
“There is no greater reward than that.”
It is my joy to love these children and be there for them