Foster love: the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — In the heart of Lake Waccamaw, there is a 140-acre campus working to provide residential and community-based services for vulnerable children in our area.

The Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina began serving children who were often victims of abuse and neglect in 1954. When it began, the program focused on providing food, clothing and shelter. Gary Faircloth, President and CEO, said B&GH has now evolved.

“The children who come to us have been through revolving doors. Often times, 10, 15, even 20, sometimes 25 placements of abuse and neglect,” Faircloth said. “We work with these children through therapeutic needs because of the traumas they’ve had in their life”.

Shannette Cunningham is a foster parent involved with B&GH. She said she went through extensive training to make sure she was ready to take in foster children. As of now, Cunningham has fostered five children and adopted three, in addition to her two biological children.

“I fell in love with them,” Cunningham said about adopting the children she fostered. “We had a bond, a special bond. I hated to see them go somewhere else”.

The community-based services at B&GH include family foster care, therapeutic foster care, adoptions and more.

Donna Yalch, the President for community-based services said they are currently looking for foster parents.

“The opioid crisis in the state of North Carolina has really made the number of children in foster care go up,” Yalch said. “We need people who have a heart for kids, who are willing to open their home and their heart to take care of these kids”.

If you want to get involved, call 877-211-5322. You can also visit the website for the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina to learn more.