We tip our hat to Maggie Silbernagel in her quest to develop a foster care home in Flomaton for young boys who have fallen between the cracks due to no fault of their own.
You read everywhere about the need for foster parents and those willing to adopt children who for one reason or another have been separated from their birth parents. These innocent children have very few choices but those who step up to take them in, give them a hug and love them can turn their lives around.
Silbernagel is working to establish the home at the old Charco building at Flomaton to house young males. It's the tip of the iceberg, but it's a beginning.
Over the years we've written stories about foster parents; it's not for everyone. We know of people who shy away from fostering because they are scared they will become too attached and have to let the child go.
The ultimate goal is to return children to their parents, but we must return those children to parents who have corrected the behavior they had that led to their children being taken away.
Long-term fostering may not be for everyone. But there are those times that a child needs to simply be placed in a loving home for a few days. Those few days can mean a lifetime for those children.
We hope the community will rally behind Silbernagel in her efforts. It's a great thing for Flomaton and it's a greater thing for the children.
Reach out to her or reach out to Lynn Barnes at the Department of Human Resources at 251-809-2000 to see what you can do to help.
It takes a community to raise a child and it takes people committed to seeing those children are taken care of.
