Donations for foster-care children to be accepted at Sunset Cinema
RUSSELLVILLE — Brandie Griffin, chairwoman of Leadership Russellville, said the 2014-15 class will culminate its foster-care project Friday by asking people to donate items when they attend the Sunset Cinema.
The movie Big Hero 6 will start at 6 p.m. at Lake Dardanelle State Park. The cost is $1, but in return for donations for foster children, the admission fee for those 13 and older will be waived.
“We’re just trying to increase awareness and the need in Arkansas, and Pope County,” Griffin said.
She said there are 7,000 abused or neglected children in foster care in Arkansas each year.
“They keep about 90 kids in foster care in Pope County for the year,” she said. “One woman was telling me they had nine children they did not have homes for in Arkansas, so the children were staying at a [Department of Human Services] office somewhere in the state” until homes could be found. “They had that many kids who were having to stay the night at the office. They do need mattresses, pack-and-plays and, for the older ones, sleeping bags — something they could store at the office and not have to go looking for it,” she said.
These items will be donated to The CALL — Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime. The nonprofit organization works to find Christian families to foster or adopt children.
“They don’t care about the denominations,” Griffin said. Different churches host trainings and walk people through the process, she said.
“I’m familiar with foster-care issues in Pope County,” Griffin said. She said that as a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Russellville, she participated in foster-care outreach through DHS. “I actually did not know about The CALL at the time,” she said. “We thought it would be a good idea to consider doing something with The CALL.”
The following new items will be collected: diapers, Pull-Ups, formula, wipes, socks, underwear, bottles, twin sheets, pillowcases, pillows, gift cards, nonperishable snacks and hygiene items. New and used items accepted include suitcases, books, toys, furniture, shoes and school supplies. Items can be donated in advance at the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce, 708 W. Main St. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday. To schedule a dropoff after 4 p.m., call Griffin at (479) 886-8284.
“The CALL is a wonderful way to get involved if you want to foster,” she said. Griffin said a testament to the need is when a representative of The CALL “said they’d rather have one more family than $100 all day long. Raising money, it’s not easy, but it’s easier than finding families,” she said.
According to The CALL’s website, there are only 1,100 foster homes in Arkansas — not enough to meet the need.
Griffin said people often have excuses, such as “the timing’s not right.”
“What it usually boils down to, [people say], ‘We have kids, we want to wait; ‘we’re not in a position financially,’” she said, or they think their home isn’t adequate. “You personally might not think your home is spectacular, but compared with what they’re coming from, your home might be heaven on Earth. A stable family that’s loving goes a lot further than a Wii or Xbox … or a swimming pool or trampoline for that child. The stories are just unbelievable. You wouldn’t think they’d happen in Arkansas, or Pope County, but they do,” Griffin said.
No one knows that better than Ashley and Dr. Michael Escue of Russellville.
“We have been foster parents for four years; we have had about 21 children,” Ashley Escue said. “We adopted one in January. I’m like, ‘Yea!’” she said, laughing. “We have five biological sons, and we adopted a son.” He’ll be 2 in July.
Escue said she and Elisabeth MacPeek are county coordinators of The CALL.
“I think a lot of people with young children think, ‘I can’t [foster a child],’ but in a lot of ways, it’s better. You’re just doing more of what you’re already doing,” Escue said. “We love it when there are other kids; it helps [the foster children] acclimate easier.”
The items collected at the Sunset Cinema will go into The CALL’S care closet at Grace Fellowship Church, she said. Items such as coats, shoes and suitcases are kept there. Monthly foster-care support-group meetings are held at the church, and families can get items from the closet.
“One of the things we feel real strongly about … we want all families to benefit from The CALL,” Escue said. “All Pope County foster families have access to our care closet, even though it’s supported and put on by CALL families.”
Ryan Cutler, a member of the Leadership Russellville class, attends church with a couple who are representatives of The CALL
Cutler said that when the class was brainstorming ideas, someone mentioned foster-care awareness. He suggested talking with the couple in his church. Other representatives of The CALL and DHS were consulted, too, he said.
“The plan for our project is to get the word out, mass communication,” Cutler said. “Sunset Cinema is going to give us a good platform because you’ve already got people there with kids.”
The 10 members of Leadership Russellville will graduate at noon June 12 in Arkansas Tech University’s Williamson’s Dining Room.
Leadership Russellville is an annual program of the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce designed to identify, educate and motivate potential leaders to become involved in the future of their community. Anyone interested in participating in the program may contact Stephanie Beerman at sbeerman@russellville.org or (479) 9682530.
In case of rain, the Sunset Cinema event will be moved to the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club gymnasium, 600 E. 16th St.
“The weather — we’re praying — it looks like it’s going to continue to cooperate,” Griffin said. Sunset Cinema is sponsored by the Russellville Advertising and Promotions Commission.