AMARILLO, TX (KFDA) - Each year, the Amarillo Business Women select a nonprofit that goes above and beyond and for 2019, the honor goes to the Amarillo Angels for their community efforts.
“So, what really resonated with us for Amarillo Angels is that they are very supportive and empowering of the foster care community," said President of Amarillo Business Women Caylar Widick. "Not only just the children but the foster care community as well. So their mission really aligns with what we do as an organization as well.”
The Amarillo Angels provide a variety of resources to support foster children and families.
“50 percent of new foster parents will stop fostering within the first year and the number one reason that they give that is they feel a lack of support," said Chief Dreamer of the Amarillo Angels Gwenn Hicks. "Now, I might not be able to foster and adopt and you might not be able to foster and adopt but we can all do something. So, we can connect and wrap and support that foster parent and the community.”
Vanessa Flanigan is currently fostering her first child. For the past year, Flanigan has fostered a three-year-old as the newest addition to the family.
“Being a foster parent is very challenging. There are events that come up that you can’t plan for and it touches you in ways that you can’t plan for,” said Flanigan.
Although fostering a child has its challenges, the Amarillo Angels help make it a little easier.
“Definitely, it is so helpful to be able to connect with volunteers that will support you that will encourage you to continue. Because it can seem very bleak at times and have that encouragement to keep going i imagine is so helpful,” said Flanigan.
To help the Amarillo Angels support foster families, the Amarillo Business Women will provide a financial gift and will host a silent auction to raise funds in April.
You can email the Amarillo Angels at info@amarilloangels.org for more information on how to contribute.
Copyright 2019 KFDA. All rights reserved.