Winter’s coming with its cold temperatures, and that helped bring 68-year-old Natalie Ferguson of Perry to address the City Council at its work session Monday.
Ferguson said there are at least 170 foster children in Houston County who need help with clothing and hygiene necessities.
She does respite care, someone who cares for children once they leave a home on their way to another home. She works through the state Department of Family and Children Services.
Funds are almost nonexistent for badly needed items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and deodorant, she said.
“Sometimes these children are leaving their home, their family and they don’t have anything more than the clothes on their backs,” Ferguson said. “And we don’t have the money to get what they need. The government doesn’t pay us enough to do that, to help them like we want to as if they were our own children.
“We do need the help,” she emphasized. “If you know of someone who would like to volunteer and send something to help these children …” he voice trailed off as she got emotional.
She recalled one time when a group of children came to the respite house and a young girl asked if she had a hairbrush.
“I didn’t have one to give, but I cleaned up one I had and gave it to her,” she said. “Now this is something we should not have to do.”
She wound up by asking council members to think it over.
Mayor James Faircloth said council members would take the matter under advisement, adding “But I think you are aware the city does not give donations of any kind; we don’t have that authority, but if you’d like to help out this particular cause, please feel free to do so.”
Ferguson said later she talked with District 1 Post 2 Councilmember Willie King, and he invited her to speak to a group of ministers the second Monday in December.
For more information on helping with foster children, or to donate, call social worker Avis Cunningham at 478-988-7524.
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