May is National Foster Care Month and the Arkansas Department of Human Services is the host for a donation drive for foster kids.
Aquonette White, county supervisor of the Division of Children & Family Services, encourages the community to get involved and also said that the help of others would “ensure that every kid that comes in foster care has personal care items, reduce the stress of getting the items, and allows the workers to give the client’s immediate care, with needs readily available.”
Steve Mason, administrator of the DHS, said children come in at all times of the night with nothing and that it would be greatly appreciated if others donated.
The most commonly needed items are diapers and wipes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, backpacks and duffle bags, hair brushes, pacifiers, children’s socks, bottles and sippy cups, underwear, pajamas, soap and baby soap, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, and lotion.
This drive is in honor of the late Judge James “Jim” Hudson Jr. and the Sunshine Foundation that was created in his honor. Hudson had a special love for helping underprivileged children.
Any organization can make a donation, and there will be boxes located all around local churches. There will be boxes located in any DHS County Office across the state throughout the month of May.
The DHS services around a 100 kids in the county and also accepts nonperishable foods.
