Comstock's magazine 1119 - November 2019 | Page 94

CAPITAL REGION CARES
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
A gape V illages F oster
F amily A gency
Healing hearts and
building families.
A
gape Villages Foster Family Agency has served more than
6,400 children in the 60 years it has been in business. As
a licensed foster family agency placing children in foster
homes, Agape Villages recruits and trains foster parents who care
for abused and neglected children.
Mary and John have been foster parents with Agape for five
years and previously fostered children through the county. They’ve
fostered 39 children so far — some stayed for just one night and
others for as long as two-and-a-half years.
The couple has adopted five of the children they’ve fostered.
Two of them, a boy and a girl, came to them two years ago as
withdrawn 3 year olds — not speaking and crying often. Since
then, though, the children have adjusted and are now flourishing
at age 5, a testament to Mary and John’s love and dedication.
Mary and John both love the positive, life-changing impact of
fostering. “It’s addicting!” confirms Mary. “The more you help, the
more you want to help, and the more you see the need, the more
you feel you have to do.”
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Mary’s parents had been foster parents, and that made a deep
impression on her. “Someone has to do this, and I always knew I
wanted to foster,” she says. “Not only do we cherish every child,
but we’ve also made so many friends in the foster care world. Our
lives are much richer for it.”
Because of you — adults with compassion and the passion
to help — Agape is able to take care of kids. The agency needs
people like Mary and John to step up as foster parents, as well as
donors who will help Agape financially support foster children.
AGAPEVILLAGES.ORG
Will you help?
profile generously sponsored by