By ZOE NIKLAS

To add to the general stress of daily life , I experienced a profound loss : My Kit Kat Clock died . Mind you this wasn ’ t any run-of-the-mill , Kit Kat Clock , this was Mrs . Church ’ s honorary Kit Kat Clock .

I was 10 years old when the juvenile

court put me back with my biological mother the first time . I had been placed in foster care for my safety , but now mama was clean and sober , they said . She wasn ’ t .

That late summer I met Mrs . Church standing in her yard , watering her flowers . She looked like a cheerful brown frog with a huge smile she shared with me . Mrs . Church took time to tell me the flowers ’ names and she always welcomed me to chat . I felt safe in Mrs . Church ’ s kitchen . She had a Kit Kat Clock on her kitchen wall , which mesmerized me with its flashing green rhinestone eyes , green jeweled bow tie and swinging tail . Knowing I was safe in Mrs . Church ’ s house , brought tears of gratitude to my eyes . Having Mrs . Church in my life was

Zoe Niklas with the Kit Kat Clock .

COURTESY PHOTO

soothing and friendly and just what I needed as a frightened little girl .

Now as an adult with my own home , I felt the need to show how grateful I was for the support and friendship I received from Mrs . Church all those years ago . So , I put my own Kit Kat Clock on my kitchen wall . All children are fascinated by it . The demise of my clock brought home to me the importance of Mrs . Church and her support in my life . A feeling of bereavement overcame me . I needed that connection like I needed air to breathe . She was my safe harbor then , and I want to provide safety to children now who are frightened .

So I found a group of ladies that wanted to help foster children as passionately as I wanted to help . I found the Cypress Branch of the Boys & Girls Aid of Oregon . To really be able to reach and help foster children was a balm to my soul . I finally found my people . At our “ Luncheon ” Webinar , the President of Boys & Girls Aid , Suzan Huntington , gave us the latest information in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and how we are supporting our children , staff and foster parents . Since the pandemic , all our meetings have been virtual and we are all learning new skills . Ms . Huntington elaborated that due to our financial support , Boys & Girls Aid is solvent and with full employment ( no layoffs or furloughs ) and fully staffed programs for our children .

The challenge now is for the Cypress Branch of the Boys & Girls to envision virtual fundraisers , virtual committee meetings while keeping abreast of the needs of our children . We are all learning new ways to respond to this challenge . With the holidays fast approaching , support for children in foster care becomes even more urgent . The holidays are difficult for these kids because they often experience reoccurring flashbacks

of abuse and they mourn for the loss of family and siblings . Boys & Girls Aid strives to keep siblings together and find forever families , where they can feel safe . Just like I felt grateful and safe in Mrs . Church ’ s kitchen with a Kit Kat Clock making me smile . Yes , I couldn ’ t be without Mrs . Church , so I bought a new Kit Kat Clock because making children smile is really passing blessings forward .

To learn more about the Cypress Branch of Boys & Girls Aid , here in Charbonneau please go to www . cypressonline . org .

If you ’ d like to learn more about the work of Boys & Girls Aid organization , please visit our website at www . boysandgirlsaid . org .