February 14, 2012

Dave Thomas Shares 107,000 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Sleep Tonight

In an article on his foundation’s website, Dave Thomas shares that across the United States, 107,000 children are in foster care, waiting to be adopted.

“The capacity seating at last week’s football frenzy at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was 68,000.  We would have to put nearly 40,000 children on the laps of other children just to get all 107,000 into those seats. And frankly, if we did just that, perhaps we would garner a bit of the attention we pay to an annual football game.

These children — our children — wait in care for years, and sometimes for their entire childhood. Last year 30,000 children quietly turned 18 and left foster care – without a “seat at the game.” They aged out, emancipated, simply walked out the door. And instead of demanding change, too often we make excuses – this child is too old; that child is better off not moving again; our budget has been slashed and we just cannot do any more.”

It puts it into a much different perspective, doesn’t it? When you think about it in terms of the spaces that could (or couldn’t possibly) hold 107,000 children?

Check out his video: “Say Yes” which advocates for fostering and adoption. Do you know anyone who has adopted foster children, or do you know any foster children who are in need of adoption? Spread the word! Giving children homes is not a one-person effort: it takes everyone possible to spread the word.