Baskets emerge out of foster care blessing

An effort to provide Easter baskets for foster children in Neshoba County came together quickly with an overwhelming response, said the organizer, a foster parent who adopted a child who is now her daughter.

Andrea Moore, a member of Grace Baptist Church, came up with the idea as part of a nearly decade-long personal journey.

Moore and her husband Tim adopted Hannah seven years ago after initially receiving a call asking if they were interested in fostering her after she was born prematurely in the Neshoba County Jail. 

Foster children are children who may be experiencing stress and trauma from recent life changes and are placed in homes of individuals or couples who are licensed by the state to care for them.

Andrea said Hannah was involved in the Easter project and excited to be a part and giving back.

“Hannah was part of the inspiration to put this program together, since we know the struggles of what foster children go through,” Andrea said. “She drove us to make it happen and she even put together a basket of her own for a foster child to receive.”

The project was taken on by the children and youth of Grace Baptist Church. “It came together very quickly,” Moore said. “We kind of rolled with it and the community wanted to help.”

How quickly? The goal was to prepare 122 Easter baskets for the upcoming Easter weekend. Within a week and a half, they had 130-plus baskets and more were coming.

“The response was overwhelming,” Moore said. “People brought baskets to me. Some brought items such as candy and toys. Some sent money. Some worked with their own children and packed baskets. It was a community effort.”

Moore said the baskets were to be delivered Tuesday.

“I have an awesome God, awesome church family, and an awesome community!!” Moore posted on Facebook Sunday. “12 days ago God placed on my heart to collect these baskets for the children in Foster Care in Neshoba County. Honestly, I wondered if it was possible to get 120 baskets in that short time.”

Foster care is a highly rewarding ministry, said a Neshoba County mother of four who has been fostering children for years.

“I can honestly say it is both rewarding and challenging,” said the mother. “Bringing another human into the family dynamic is an adjustment no matter how old your children are, no matter how many children you have.”

“But it’s an opportunity for families to be the hands and feet of Christ, and work together to help make a difference in the life of a child, she said.

So many people fear attachment and say they “would love to foster, but I just can’t, because I would get too attached,”  she said people have told her.

“But we have to look beyond our feelings because that is putting our feelings before the actual needs of a child,” she said.

As believers in Christ, she said her family asked the Lord to lead and for strength because he faithfully provides. 

“Sometimes birth mothers will even form relationships with the foster family so that the foster family continues to be a part of the child’s life,” she said.

There are currently about 400,000 kids in foster care in the US.

Neshoba County needs more good foster parents, she said.  And if people don’t feel led to foster, there are so many ways individuals can help foster parents by offer to babysit, grocery shop, buy clothes or  just simply asking, “What can I do?” she said.

Southern Christian Services in Jackson is one option to foster children,601-354-0983, or scscy.org. 

Individuals can also call the Neshoba County Department of Human Services, (601) 656-1231, to get the foster process started.