Gilmer students volunteer with Foster Parent Association

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Since October, the Gilmer High School chapter of Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) has volunteered monthly with local foster children through the Foster Parent Association. Monthly meetings allow FCCLA members to spend time playing with, teaching, and bonding with these children.

Cesley Johnson, an FCCLA member, commented, “We felt as if the foster children group was something that didn’t get a lot of direct attention and that needed to change. One visit later with these babies, and we all realized that it was much more than just that. Each one of us have formed a bond with these kids and look forward to every visit we get the privilege of having with them.” 

Several students have even taken initiative to  design programming for the children. Cesley Johnson and Kelsey Payne have organized a different small lesson each month. These lessons include information on nutrition, mindfulness/gratitude, and even a little cooking. Recently, Kasey Rangel also decided to organize an event by providing a Christmas gift for each child. She sought out an individual sponsor for each child from the school and her church.  

Overall, the program has made a profound impact on the FCCLA volunteers. As one states, “Selflessness, love, generosity, and patience are all things that we have learned from seeing these kids just once a month.”