SOKY Fair hosts night for foster kids in community
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – On Tuesday, the SOKY Fair opened up just a bit early for foster kids in the area through a partnership with Toys for Tots, Flora Templeton Stuart and the Jaycees.
“We work really closely with Toys for Tots, we love Janel and she works closely with the Jaycees, so she connected with the Jaycees… and the Jaycees were wanting to do something like this, to go around the fair, but a giving back sort of situation… and so it just all came together,” Lara Mattingly, a team leader with the Network Two Rivers Region, and event organizer, says.
The night included a quick dinner as well as school supply giveaways and much more. Each child also got $10 to spend out on the fairgrounds.
“It’s an opportunity for our kids that are in our care to come and be with other children that are also in care. It’s been special for our kids specifically because they’re able to experience the fear with their siblings that are in different homes than they are in currently. It’s just an awesome event that allows us to make memories with our kids… allows our kids to be in the community, and we’re so thankful for the opportunity to be able to do that,” foster parent Stephanie Beason says.
Staff say it’s a great opportunity to get out and about and have some fun.
“When foster families can be together like this and see the community support, it really just puts wind in their sails so that they can continue doing the good work that they’re doing on loving kids,” Mattingly says.
Parents, on the other hand, are grateful for the opportunity to come out and explore the SOKY Fair with their kids.
“We often say that if you can’t foster, offer… and our community is so amazing about wrapping its arms around parents and foster parents and foster children… and so Toys for Tots has been a wonderful partnership here in Bowling Green… the Network with Lara Mattingly, she is fantastic at organizing different events… and it really just helps us feel connected and supported by our community,” Beason says.
