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For those who have giving hearts, creation of special items requires a special recipient.
In the case of a group of quilters in another county, the plan to pass along their gifts was easy.
According to Lynn Barnes, director of Escambia County’s DHR, the recent gift came from a former board member and long-time Brewton resident.
Dianne Saloom, who now lives in Conecuh County, was part of the quilting group that made the recent contribution to the local DHR.
“Although Dianne is no longer on the Escambia County DHR Board because she and her husband moved to Conecuh county, she continues to have a heart for service to our foster community,” Barnes said. “During COVID lockdown, she and several friends began making quilts, but really didn’t have a purpose for them until she thought about how great it would be for every foster child to have one made specifically for him or her.”
That thought has turned into an opportunity to blanket the foster children in Escambia County with love.
“Dianne and her group began quilting for foster children and provided quilts to the foster children in Conecuh county,” Barnes said. “They have now reached out and provided one for all of the foster children in Escambia county. Each quilt carries the first name of the child it was made for, which is especially important for children who sometimes enter foster care with very few belongings of their own.”
Barnes said their are 54 children in Escambia County who are part of the Foster Child program.
“The needs of child welfare are enormous and range from the need for staff (more people to commit to this as a profession), to the need for more in-county foster homes.
“Dianne and her group are testament to the fact that even if all of the needs can’t be met, there is always a way to be of service to these children in our community,” Barnes said.
Escambia County currently has 54 children in foster care, with only 13 of those children being housed in-county due to the shortage of in-county foster family homes.
“We encourage the community to consider opening their hearts and homes to these children,” Barnes said. “If that’s not possible, please look for ways to support this program and those who serve.”
Anyone wanting more information about the foster care program in Escambia County or ways in which you can support the work, please contact Tracie James-Mauldin at 251-809-2000.