Cherokee children spending holidays in foster care

Seventy-eight Cherokee County children were living in foster care on June 30, 2007, according to the Department of Social Services. Many of these children are still in foster care and will be spending the holidays in a foster home or group home.

While some children are wishing for toys and clothes, these children are in need of a permanent home and caring adults who can speak up for them and help them find safety and love. The Cherokee County Volunteer Guardian ad litem program provides volunteer advocates for these children. It is the group's goal to help them find safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

"Sometimes the greatest gift we can give to a child is the gift of our time," said Kim Ellison. "Our volunteers devote a few hours each month to visit their child and get to know them. We learn how they are doing in school, what their families are like, and most importantly, what the child wants for his/her future. We walk the walk with the child while they are in foster care and advocate for them to move quickly through the system. We give the child hope that they will someday have a safe, loving family."

Free training teaches volunteers how to become positive,

effective advocates for children. "We seek volunteers, male or female, who are over 21, of any education, background, ethnicity or race," Ellison said. "All that is necessary is the desire to work with children an the ability to donate six to eight hours per month to the program."

The next volunteer training session will begin soon. Anyone who would like to volunteer may call Ellison at 864-573-5175 or visit Cherokee.scgal.org for more information or to download an application.