By Eric Kuznar
The Carmel Rotary Club is partnering with The Villages of Indiana to address a shortage of foster and adoptive families for children in need.
“There has never ever been a greater need in Indiana than there is today,” said Sharon Pierce, CEO and president of The Villages, a nonprofit child and family services agency.
Pierce said that the rise in drug use, especially heroin, methamphetamine, opium and opioids, is a big reason for the need for more foster families.
“It seems like more parents than ever before are actively involved and addicted,” Pierce said. “It’s really frightening for this next generation of children in Indiana.”
Pierce recently spoke to the Carmel Rotary Club about The Villages. The organizations will work together at the Carmel Rotary Club After Hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at A Cut Above Catering, 12955 Old Meridian St. 104, to promote the The Villages and its mission.
The networking event will be open to the public. Attendees are invited to learn more about The Villages and bring donations of clothes and money. Pierce said that all donations will go to helping kids in need.
“Right now any financial contributions we are investing in the recruitment, training and screening of foster families, because that is such a critical need,” Pierce said. “Very little of that is covered by any kind of state dollars.”
Pierce said that 92 cents of every dollar from The Villages goes to helping children and providing services, including transitional programs for young adults who have been in the foster system but have not been adopted. Pierce said The Villages will help them further their education after high school or make life decisions.
Learn more at thevillages.org.
