Local School Blesses Smoky Mountain Children’s Home
A group of highly motivated young people from New Center Middle School in Sevierville, Tennessee, set a goal to do something about bringing comfort to children facing the dilemma of moving from foster home to foster home.
“A staggering 400,000 American children are in foster care,” stated Dr. Walt Mauldin, executive director of the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home in Sevierville. “Most of these children get handed a black trash bag to put a few of their belongings in before they are taken away. If they have to move again, they are often handed another black trash bag. Imagine being one of these children! Children are more than trash bags!”
New Center’s Junior Beta Club, led by their sponsors, Tiffany Rock and Jennifer Fox, wanted foster children in the area to know they have value, so they went to work with a non-profit organization called, “Together We Rise,” to help area children and youth realize they deserve more than a trash bag.
“Together We Rise” specializes in providing opportunities for foster children. The middle school students set a goal of raising enough money to provide 50 “Sweet Cases” to help children in Sevier County. However, through student fundraising efforts, the New Center Beta Club was able to raise enough money to provide a total of 128 cases. These “Sweet Cases” are comprised of a duffel bag filled with a stuffed animal, blanket, hygiene kit, coloring book and crayons. Each child can keep the bag and take it with him/her as they go on their journey.
Recently, the New Center Beta traveled to the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home to present the cases to Dr. Walt and Tammie Mauldin in hopes of positively impacting these children and young people’s lives. Mauldin stated, “We were so thankful for the kindness shown by New Center Beta, and sincerely thank them for their work. Their efforts will be remembered for years to come!”
(Source: Smoky Mountain Children’s Home)
