Picture a child on a doorstep — scared, with no personal belongs, waiting to meet strangers who have promised to care for him, not knowing what the future will bring.
Picture a foster parent — awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night, told to be ready to receive one such child, scrambling to throw things together before the caseworker shows up on the doorstep.
Foster parents Janel and Jordan Jensen of Greenfield know this scenario only too well.
“We got our first foster child in December, and since then, we’ve had three others come through, some without clothing or personal items,” Janel said. “Sometimes they stay overnight, but others stay for months. The Indiana Department of Child Services gives vouchers for the children, but it is usually not enough. It can become a financial burden for the people who are opening their hearts and homes to these children.”
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Janel got on her personal Facebook page and asked for clothing donations of the appropriate size.
“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and neighbors,” Janel said. “We received much more than one child could use! One night, my husband and I were talking about how we could ease the burden on both sides — caseworkers and foster families — as well as ease the transition for the children going into foster care. We came up with an idea to supply a bag of clothes.”
The Jensens asked a family case manager if she would be willing to come by their home to pick up a prepared bag of clothes on her way to deliver a child to foster parents. She said, “Absolutely!” and suggested the Jensens contact Hands of Hope, an organization that helps local non-profits that support foster care.
“Hands of Hope sent a representative to talk to me and get our idea off the ground,” Janel said.
Next, the Jensens asked local organizations such as Hancock Regional Hospital, McCordsville Wellness Center, and the Greenfield location of Hancock County Public Library, to place donation bins in their buildings. Social media sites began to advertise and conduct drives for the new organization, Journey Bags of Hancock County, and the idea blossomed overnight.
“So far, it’s been incredible,” Janel said. “We couldn’t believe the feedback we got from the county. Before we even had donation bins in place, we had people dropping off bags of goods at our house.”
Journey bags are cloth grocery bags filled with a week’s worth of clothing such as socks, underwear, shirts, pants or shorts, plus basic toiletries. Donations can be new or gently used, without stains or holes and not worn-looking or outdated.
“These kids have already lived with holes or stains,” Janel said. “They deserve a pick-me-up. One volunteer in her seventies was a foster child herself. She’s excited to ‘pay it forward,’ so she takes clothes home to wash.”
The Jensens’ basement is already deep with donations.
“We do run out of space,” Janel laughed. “It’s been a big learning curve for us. At some point, I would love to have someone like me in every city of the county to collect donations. It could become a full-time job.”
Janel also works with school guidance counselors and brings bags for students they know could use some help. The service they provide is available for any child in the county who has a need.
“We’re surrounded by examples of Christ-like love in Hancock County. It’s a very Christian community. They reach out, care and love their neighbors,” Janel said. “This organization is another way we can express that love.”
Janel and Jordan are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and attend services in Shelbyville with their children Emma, Eliza, Carter and Hannah. Their oldest, Schuyler, is serving the Latin American community in Memphis, Tennessee, as a full-time missionary for the Church.
“I’m a member of the largest and oldest women’s organization in the world — the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” Janel said. “We believe it’s not enough to go to church on Sunday and proclaim a love of God and neighbor; you have to show that love through service.”
To find out more, go to www.facebook.com/Journey Bags of Hancock County/.
