Special event for foster care awareness to be held Aug. 19
Calhoun Georgia Rock’s, the Facebook group that began earlier this year that blends artistry and activity to promote community exploration, is hosting an event to bring awareness to the need of foster care families in Gordon County. The event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19 at BB&T Park in downtown Calhoun from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
According to Garrett Pierce, Resource Development Supervisor for Region 1 of Division of Family and Children Services, which includes Gordon County, the family- friendly event will provide families in the community with information about the need for more foster families and also provide a day of family fun.
Activities at the event will include rock painting, a dunking booth, corn hole games and a slide. County and regional DFCS staff will be on hand that day to give information to families interested in fostering. Current foster families in CalhounGordon County are also invited to attend.
According to Pierce, there is a desperate need for foster families in Gordon County at this time. “We had 30 children in June and July enter foster care in Gordon County,” said Pierce. “And we still only have 35 total homes in Gordon. With all of that, Gordon County now has 95 children in care. We are not currently able to keep our children in their community. Our kids are being sent all over Georgia, when they need to be kept close to home.”
Calhoun native Melissa Collins began the Calhoun Georgia Rock’s Facebook group after being inspired by similar groups in Columbus, Ga. and Florida. To become involved with Calhoun Georgia Rock’s, simply join the “Calhoun Georgia Rock’s” Facebook group, grab a rock, paint the rock with your own original and imaginative designs, hide it somewhere in the community, take a picture that provides subtle clues about the location of your rock and post the photo to the group’s Facebook page so people have the opportunity to search for it. Once someone goes on a search and finds one of the decorative rocks, they have two choices. If they enjoy the rock’s design, they can keep it. If someone wants the fun to continue, they can re-hide the rock and post another picture to the group that hints where the rock is now hidden.
The community is invited to be on the lookout for Foster Care Awareness rocks throughout the community in the coming weeks, and to join Calhoun Georgia Rock’s, along with Gordon County DFCS on Saturday, Aug. 19 for a special event to bring awareness to the need of foster families in Calhoun-Gordon County.