Neighbor News
Chosen Inc. Launches “Be Their Voice” Campaign for Foster Needs
Initiative replaces planned Aug. 15 walk at Milwaukee County Zoo, and will publicize expected rise in foster care demand due to COVID-19
Waukesha, Wis. – With an expected spike in foster care needs looming due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chosen Inc. (“Chosen”) is launching a “Be Their Voice” campaign to raise awareness of these children in crisis, and how families are needed to care for them.
The campaign, which relies on participants gathering pledges and posting online images and videos, replaces the planned fourth annual Friends of Chosen Walk at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Chosen, a non-profit ministry dedicated to educating about and supporting foster and adoptive parenting, opted for an alternative due to COVID-19 concerns.
“Be Their Voice” will run Aug. 15 to 22. Participants are asked to purchase a T-shirt at www.choseninlove.org/2020walk, seek pledges, and wear the shirt while doing their favorite activity: walking, running, biking, bowling … almost anything! Images and videos can be shared with the hashtag #betheirvoice.
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“Due to heightened stress and physical distancing from COVID-19, the ‘eyes on the ground’ who usually identify child abuse or neglect – social service professionals, teachers and daycare workers – are far less involved,” said Karen Schlindwein, Vice-President of Education and Development for Chosen. “In response, we need to further expand outreach to meet even more family needs, and raise awareness of the many more kids in crisis who need foster families.”
Funds raised will also help Chosen move toward its goal of opening a Family Closet in Milwaukee County in 2021. Similar to The Family Closet in Waukesha, foster and adoptive families could obtain donated clothing and other children’s items, free of charge.
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Event sponsors are SaintA, Norris, Waukesha County Foster Care, Foundations, Children’s Community Health Plan and The Edge Contracting.
Chosen is dedicated to “Fostering Forever Families” through spiritual, material, and emotional support for families built around adoption and foster parenting. Chosen works diligently to educate the community about adoption and foster care issues, and help adoptive and foster families by sharing resource referrals to other organizations and professionals.
Since its founding in 2016, Chosen has served more than 350 families from 10 counties, caring for more than 600 foster or adopted children. The