The Moses Basket By Cassie Johnson
A
t any given time about 700 children are in foster or relative care within the twelve counties of western Kentucky. Often, placement within the foster system happens at the last minute. Foster parents may be overwhelmed without adequate time to prepare. Children arrive at their new foster homes with only the clothes they’re wearing - no toys, no special blankets, none of their possessions to give them any comfort. That’s when The Moses Basket steps in. The Moses Basket (TMB) offers clothing, necessities, and supplies to the child’s receiving family. In addition, every child gets a basket full of age-appropriate items to help ease the anxieties associated with relocation. Sisters Kristen Beck and Lacey Baker founded The Moses Basket in 2017. They were inspired by their dad’s story – he was placed into foster care from birth, until his adoption at the age of 13 months. “It’s personal for us,” shares Beck. “His childhood path formed an integral part of the legacy he left for my sister and me. We would not be here if not for his parents taking a leap of faith and opening their home to a foster child.”
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With help from area social workers, the sisters developed their mission. The goal of TMB is to make the transition to a new home as smooth as possible for all hearts involved. Besides assisting with placement supplies, TMB is also a resource for special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, and Christmas gifts. “The first priority is to assist receiving families. The second objective is to offer a sense of normalcy to the children that find themselves in a new environment,” Beck told me. “Our prayer is regardless of whether it is a short or long-term arrangement; we can play a small part in helping weave your family together.”
How it Works
Upon notification of child placement, the receiving family can log into themosesbasket.com. The site is set up like an online store and is very user-friendly. The family fills out a wish list of age-appropriate items that are needed when the child arrives. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes. After the wish list is received, TMB will verify every detail with the social worker. Once confirmed, preparation of each package with
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