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One Ribbon = One Child

By Sarah Cooper

Services for Real Estate Pros with Real Estate Shows

June 12, 2007 10:49 AM

Mission West Virginia is trying to help people see how many children we have in foster homes here in West Virginia. They have made a beautiful visual demonstration in Hurricane City Park. Please watch the Show below.

Each ribbon represents a child in need of a home. Many children are available for adoption, others need temporary care. All of them are real children, with a need for love and a stable home.

For the next couple weeks, you can visit Hurricane City Park and view the trees full of ribbons. Please take a moment to pause and try to imagine so many children in need of homes. Hold your own children a little closer, and see if there might be room for another.

This Thursday at noon, there will be a gathering at the park. Butterflies will be released to symbolize the children in Putnam County awaiting homes. There will be a picnic to honor the contributions of foster families.

I appreciate Mission West Virginia's creative efforts to meet their goals. They are a very positive organization that collaborates with other groups (including businesses and churches) to build stronger communities and find healthy, happy homes for children in need. We are lucky to have them!

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Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

That was a very nice presentation and show Sarah! I'm sure there will be a large number of people showing up to view and hopefully a bunch to show they care!

Jun 12, 2007 10:56 AM

Jason Sardi

Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC

Your Agent for Life

There's that heart of yours:-)

Jun 12, 2007 11:09 AM

Anonymous

Kelly Thompson

Hi Sarah,

Not sure if my previous entry posted. I just wanted to say thank you so much for including our event on your site. I loved the slideshow! I also appreciate your interest in our cause and event.

I also wanted you to know this blog will now be marked in my favorite folder as well!

Kelly

Jun 12, 2007 01:39 PM

Maggie Dokic /Indialantic | 321-252-8696

Magdalena Dokic - Indialantic, FL

Selling the beach in Florida's space coast

Sarah, what a poignant post. Nothing like a visual to drive a point home. I pray there will be many less ribbons due to your combined efforts. Every child deserves a place to feel safe and loved.

Jun 12, 2007 02:11 PM

Danny Smith

DISCOVER TEXAS HOMES - Round Rock, TX

Ok you've covered everything! Dogs and Kids that's the two things I like most in life!

Jun 12, 2007 02:50 PM

Carol Spengel

Prudential Rubloff - Wheaton, IL

Wheaton IL

Hi Sarah,

Kevin and I are foster parents in Illinois and the video is a perfect visual to the great need for foster families. We have had 14 foster kids stay with us. All of them have brought great joy into our lives. We were just in court today and it looks like we will be adopting our 4th child by year's end through the foster care system.

I am always willing to talk with people about fostering kids. There are so many kids out there that need a good home and lots of love.

Peace - Sherry

Jun 12, 2007 04:32 PM

Jeff Turner

RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA

Sarah... It almost feel silly to write this, since it's so obvious, but here goes. This is just flippin' fabulous. Fabulous.

Jun 12, 2007 09:22 PM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Sally - The ribbons will be up for a week or two, I hope people will get a chance to come see them. When you see them in person it's even more surprising just how many there are. West Virginia is not a big state ... that's a LOT of children.

Jason - :o)

Kelly - I'm so glad you stopped by! (Everyone, Kelly Thompson and Jessica Gregg were the ones who put up all the ribbons. Jessica is the one in the photos.) I bet your arms are so tired today!! This was a beautiful visual, Kelly. I hope to blog about your upcoming events as well. Please keep me posted! I also write for the Real Estate Shows Blog and there is a link to your site from there as well. The post there is more about making the Shows rather than the event, but you may get some hits from there,too.

Maggie - I hope there will be many less, too! They also have a program called One Church, One Child which encourages each congregation to take responsibility for a child. One family takes in the child, but the entire congregation is involved in support. I love that one.

Danny - Kids and dogs, that's pretty much me! (Well, I have always considered myself a cat person, too. But nobody's tried to mess with my right to own them ... )

Sherry - Bless you and Kevin, and your entire family!! Congratulations!! Thank you so much for adding your comment. I'm very happy to hear about your growing family!

Jeff - That's not silly, I'm so glad you liked it. :o) I'm smiling!

Jun 12, 2007 10:57 PM

Chris Griffith

Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL

Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent

Great cause. In Southwest FLorida our Board of Realtos is behind the Liberty Youth Ranch. It was started by an man who was orphaned and wanted to create homes for children in this area who are simply victims of circumstance.

I hope you post pictures of the butterflies!

Jun 13, 2007 12:57 AM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Hi, Chris! The Liberty Youth Ranch sound really great, I love that the local Realtors are involved! I do hope to get pictures of the butterflies. I'll be on kind of a time crunch that morning, but I do so want to be there!

Jun 13, 2007 02:15 AM

Yvonne Brown

Century 21 Northwest - Gilbert, AZ

Sarah, This is a beautiful post and a subject that needs more attention. Thanks for sharing!

Jun 13, 2007 02:19 AM

Midori Miller

Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL

Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Sarah-Wow, made me cry! I almost was a foster child, I remember when I thought I was going to a group home and how scared I was. I also remember that my brother and I would likely be separated and too me that was really scary. I thank God, every day for my parents.....

Jun 13, 2007 04:28 AM

Dianne Barody

Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty - Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Florida Real Estate

Hi Sarah, what a wonderful post. I was a foster child for 3 years. I was blessed to be in a loving home. My mom finally got us back, but I always remembered my foster parents. They were inspirational to me and I owe a great deal to them for how I am now. Thank you for sharing

Jun 13, 2007 06:48 AM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Yvonne - I'm so glad you liked it! I hope to cover more of their events in the future.

Midori - I'm so glad you were able to stay with your family! This must be so scary for children, I can't imagine it. To think that you'd be taken away from your brother too must have been awful. I grew up very good friends with a girl that had five brothers. Her parents took in foster babies as well. It was a full home, but a very happy one. Looking back, I think they were nearly as perfect a family as one can be. There was always room for one more.

Dianne - I'm so glad you were placed with a good family! I think by far most of them most be wonderful homes, to be willing to take in scared kids and help them feel loved and safe. I'm glad you have a happy ending and good thoughts about your foster family now.

Jun 13, 2007 12:14 PM

Desiree Daniels

RE/MAX Tri County - Robbinsville, NJ

Sarah - Great show and beautiful idea.... thanks for sharing - once again another excellent post.

Jun 13, 2007 03:25 PM

Elena Thurston, Family Real Estate Specialist

Keller Williams Legacy One - Gilbert, AZ

Sarah, what a great post and movie!! We have often thought of becoming foster parents but DH doesn't think his heart can take it. If we don't have a baby in a year or so, we think we might adopt. Thanks for keeping this in the forefront.

Jun 13, 2007 03:51 PM

Dianne Barody

Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty - Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Florida Real Estate

Yes Sarah, I was very fortunate but I missed my brothers and sisters. They were seven of us and we were separated for a few years. It is sad but true....there are homes out there that were not as loving as mine.

Jun 14, 2007 07:06 AM

Sarah Cooper

Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV

Desiree - So glad you liked it!

Elena - Another hubby resists!! I look forward to hearing your happy baby news, however your child comes to you! :o)

Dianne - Oh, that must have been so hard! I'm glad you were one of the lucky ones. And I hope more good families will take a chance and become foster families.

Jun 18, 2007 09:37 AM