Did you know that there are 19,000 MICHIGAN children in foster care? And 4,600 of those are waiting for a permanent home? Often we think of orphans as children who live in third world countries, or images we see on television or in the newspaper. But they’re not just around the world, they’re also right here in our own backyard.
Did you know that many of them leave their homes with nothing more than a garbage sack of clothes? Imagine how children must feel when they’re removed from their homes, often with nothing more than the clothes on their back and a garbage bag filled with whatever they were able to quickly pack.
Could you imagine taking your belongings everywhere you went? I can. I was a recipient of foster care 29 years ago. I remember the day my sister and I were removed from our home. It was traumatic and we were only allowed to take one paper sack of clothing along with us. We shared everything, even our underwear and socks. They were not new items and showed much wear and tear of two 13 year old girls.
RICK RACK – a vision born:
A friend of mine sent me an email asking about 4Kids of south Florida . That is where I came across Taylor’s Closet. Taylor’s Closet was started by a 14 year old girl who was looking for a place she could serve. She and some friends began collecting nearly new and new clothing and invited foster girls to shop and experience what most teenage girls experience in a healthy environment. She and other teens on the advisory board created Taylor’s Closet and minister to every girl that comes to shop. What began as an idea is now a store providing designer labeled clothing from all over the world.
We could do that, right here in our own backyard. Brainstorming with this same friend we came up with the name “Rick Rack” to honor my foster dad, Rick Englert. Rick passed away suddenly in May 2004 of pancreatic cancer. Rick had a gift of ministering to hurting kids who faced circumstances out of their control and demonstrated Christs love to them. He was, to me, the hands and feet of Christ.
RICK RACK - The Love of Christ in Action:
Rick Rack would allow girls and boys in foster care, and in need to come into a store-like environment and “shop” for whatever clothes they liked - free of charge. The idea is to put a smile on their face for a moment and let them know they are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and showered with love.
“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name, welcomes me” - MATTHEW 18: 5
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