Bethany Foster (second from right) explains bottle rocket launching to 4-H members Chesley Slater (right), Tate Keese (left) and Brody Foster. Photo by Sadie Raasch.
Fostering
Leaders 4-H students lead workshop for children in foster care
“We aren’t just providing child he warm summer breeze blows care,” Richardson said. “We’re really on children’s faces. They stand wanting to do our part to help chilnext to their mentor. Filled dren build relationships and have new with excitement, they wait for the experiences.” action. Three, two, one, blastoff! A The Foster Family Support simple bottle rocket flies into the air. The children are filled with joy as their Ministry’s volunteer and participation numbers have grown nearly 50% in the creations come to life. 16 months of its operation, Richardson Children in the Oklahoma foster said. care system had this experience in the fall of 2019 as they launched the bottle “We are very rural in our part of rockets several 4-H members helped Oklahoma,” Richardson said. “Our them make. families can come to a It’s important foster central location, reThese rockets were made through families feel valued ceive required training, the Foster Family network, and have the and supported. Support Ministry security that their chilMary Richardson program, where 4-H dren are being well cared members volunteer to present enfor by people who have credentials to richment activities to children in the do so.” foster care system. Richardson reached out to the local “It’s important that foster families 4-H club to ask if members wanted to present an enrichment activity for the feel valued and supported,” said Mary Richardson, the program’s coordinator. children, said Kacey Olivo, the Hughes The Foster Family Support Ministry and Seminole counties 4-H educator. is through the United Methodist Olivo said she thought of Bethany Church in Wewoka, Oklahoma. A part Foster, the Hughes County 4-H reof this program is providing childcare porter, who Olivo believed would be a perfect fit for the program. while foster parents attend two-hour “Bethany is really positive, outgoing training sessions, Richardson said. 30 | COWBOY JOURNAL
