Chilton County DHR provides Christmas gifts for foster kids
Published 5:00 pm Thursday, January 2, 2014
Good deed done: Cathy Stephens, Janet Seales, Marilyn Colson and the Marion Vick family pose with 45 bicycles donated in memory of foster parent Phillip Vick.
Chilton County Department of Human Resources Director Marilyn Colson thanked local residents for the generosity they shared with more than 100 foster children in the custody of the state.
All of those children were either sponsored with gift items for Christmas or by money donations that the agency used to purchase items on the children’s wish list, Colson said.
“Every year around the end of November, we start to worry if we will be able to meet all of the needs, but each year the Chilton County community, and even those from other areas, come through and overwhelm us with their kindness,” she said. “Although everyone cannot become foster parents, a network of individual citizens, teachers, civic organizations, businesses, school clubs, churches and Bible classes come together to make Christmas special for these children who cannot be with their own families during this special time of year.”
Different organizations and businesses have continued traditions begun several years ago to help the foster children. Irwin Family Chiropractic, for the fourth year, held a Patient Appreciation Day on which patients could make donations to the foster children while also receiving a complimentary adjustment from Dr. John Irwin.
Dr. Irwin then matches the patients’ donations.
Generous donation: Dr. John Irwin presents donations from a Patient Appreciation Day to DHR staff for foster children. Pictured with Irwin are: Terry Hadden of Irwin Family Chiropractic Clinic and Marilyn Colson, Cathy Stephens, Sara Knight and Patty Drake of DHR.
Also again this year, the family of Phillip Vick in Sylacauga honored his memory by providing bicycles to 45 Chilton County foster children.
Phillip and his wife Joette were foster parents to more than 60 children before his untimely death in 2006.
Prior to his death, Phillip commented that instead of flowers at his funeral he would want bicycles to be given to foster children. His wishes were honored. At his funeral, the front of the church was laden with colorful bicycles.
Phillip’s brother, Marion, and his wife have continued this ministry in his memory and in recognition of Phillip’s devotion to children. Benefit singings and fundraisers support the ministry—before a bicycle is given to a child, it is anointed with oil, and a prayer is said for the life of the child who will receive the bicycle.
For more information about the effort, visit vickfamilymusic.com.
Other groups and individuals also made Christmas contributions to help the elderly and disabled served by the agency.
“Chilton County can always be depended on to meet the needs of the vulnerable when they are asked,” Colson said.
