Since opening last fall, the Isaiah 117 House has been making a difference for Towns and Union County kids taken into foster care. When initially seized by the Division of Family & Children Services, children have a chance for one of the most traumatic moments of their lives to be softened by the kindness of dedicated local volunteers.
“When children are removed from their homes and they’re waiting for placement in foster care, the DFCS workers take them here rather than taking them to an office,” explained volunteer Sheila Loy, giving a tour of the facility. “This is the only house like it in Georgia.”
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The children receive a warm welcome with gentle smiles and can take a shower if needed or eat a warm meal. Some arrive with only the clothes on their backs; most are shocked to find the shelves downstairs stocked with a variety of toys and books, not to mention brand-new clothes they can choose to be outfitted with. In fact, each child receives a suitcase with about five days’ worth of clothes when they leave, along with a set of pajamas.
Thanks to the efforts of a local trivia group, Isaiah 117 has a little bit of help continuing what they do best – supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community. Donna Neal says her group came up with the idea to start raising money for a local charity back in January, and the near-unanimous choice was Isaiah 117.
The group met up each Thursday, and everyone pitched in $2 to play trivia. Averaging between 65 to 70 players each week, that money added up over the course of five months.
“To me, it was very fun just to get together each week and meet people that I didn’t know and really form bonds and friendships … and to know that we were also raising money, $2 at a time, for a great cause,” Neal said. “(Participants) had the option of either taking a portion of what was donated that night or donating it back to Isaiah 117 House, and the majority was donated back to Isaiah 117.”
On June 29, Neal and others from the group met up with Isaiah 117 volunteers at the house to present a check for $1,822. There were a few misty eyes among the bunch, especially from the appreciative volunteers.
“That’s so cool. All I can say about that – that’s awesome,” said an emotional Frank Loy, husband of Sheila. The duo is currently in the process of becoming foster parents themselves, and they assured Neal and her friends that their fundraiser would “go a long way” in supporting Isaiah 117 and the children that find respite within its walls.
Speaking of which, others can help by signing up as foster parents; Loy noted a distinct lack of foster parents in Towns and Union Counties and said that local children are often taken as far as Cumming to find the care they need. Isaiah 117 offers foster parent support and even “date nights” where volunteers watch foster kids for a while to offer some respite.
On that note, the organization is also in need of volunteers, and it should be emphasized that one doesn’t even have to be interested in working directly with children. Loy detailed the importance of having someone to cook meals for the kids and social workers, and even the smallest jobs – like straightening out inventory – can go a long way.
Check out www.families4families.cc or head over to the Family & Children Services Department at 420 Blue Ridge Highway to start the process of becoming a foster parent.
And contact Isaiah 117 Location Leader Audrey Gonet at audrey.gonet@isaiah117house.com or 706-897-1548 to become a volunteer of the nonprofit organization.
Finally, keep an eye out around Blairsville for lemonade stands, where volunteers for Isaiah 117 will be offering information and free lemonade to anyone curious about what the organization stands for.
