There are 450,000 children in foster care across the country.
Here in Nueces County, there are 450 -- a high number for our area. Adoption is not the only way to help these children. There are so many ways to impact their lives. Starting this Sunday, Nov. 3 -- there is a nationwide movement -- called "Stand Sunday."
It's a chance to spread awareness and opportunity so people can reach out and get involved even in the smallest of ways. Jean Meadors fostered a child. She said too many times foster children fall through the cracks.
"A lot of times they feel like they don't really belong anywhere," Meadors said.
Outside of case workers, lawyers and judges, giving them security really does take a village.
"All the groups need money to fund and money to buy things for the kids," she said.
Meadors said those can also lend their time and volunteer.
"Make sure the child feels welcomed," she said. "Make sure the child feels that they are important to somebody. That's the most important thing is that they feel important."
The "Stand Sunday" event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Christian Fellowship located at 6602 S. Staples Street. Child advocacy groups will come together and share the many ways the public can lend a helping hand.
"From purchasing a Christmas present for the Christmas store that will happen at Agape Ranch in December to becoming a respite provider, a CASA (volunteer) or foster parent," Sarah Baugh, Agape Ranch volunteer, said. "There is a wide range of options. Many different ways and capacities that the community can get involved with supporting children in foster care."
There will also be information for those interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
"We are having to send kids outside of our county, outside of our city everyday because there is not enough people that have said 'yes,'" Baugh said. "To take them out of the city that they know, the schools that they know -- it just adds to the trauma of the whole situation."
Baugh said not every one should become a foster parent, but they can stand beside those who are.
In addition to a panel discussion and information booths, there will also be a free concert by Radney Foster -- who has traveled the nation sharing personal stories and songs about foster care -- something he is familiar with. He also has eight number one hit singles and has worked with a handful of country music artists.
