The Austin Arrow office hosted a fantastic Christmas Party for families at the Family Center at Hill Country Bible Church Austin! A heartfelt thanks goes out to their incredible volunteers who made the event such a success. The celebration was filled with joy as kids enjoyed craft tables, a photo booth, Christmas dancers, delicious food, music, and, of course, gifts! It was a memorable day, and the support for foster families was truly inspiring.
Berkeley Research Group generously donated over 300 personal hygiene supply bags and housekeeping items to ACFM Maryland. We are so grateful for their kindness and support in helping us serve our community and make a difference for kids. Thank you, BRG, for helping us spread joy this holiday season!
Arrow is thrilled to receive over 100 Christmas gifts donated to Arrow kiddos by PennyBacker Capital! Joan Norton, Arrow’s Austin’s recruiter was on hand December 4th in downtown Austin speaking to a full house of PennyBacker employees and then the employees got busy wrapping up the gifts for our Arrow kiddos. Each year, PennyBacker does a philanthropic event and this year Arrow was a recipient.
Longview, Texas (KLTV) -New forever families continue to be formed in this National Adoption Month. On Nov. 15, six families adopted seven children into their families inside the Gregg County Courthouse, one pair being twin brothers Mathew and Makai. Their adoptive mother Verniita Gipson says the twins’ adoption was a moment that was years in the making. “Their mother is a relative of mine, and unfortunately she was going through some things in her life, you know,” Gipson says. Agreeing to foster the brothers since they were just four months old, Gipson was able to be there for them when their biological mother couldn’t. “We had spoken previously to her having her children, if she ever got in a situation… that I would be willing to help her as much as I possibly could.”
After two and a half years of fostering the boys, Gipson took the steps to take them in fully. “I’m grateful that she made the decision to put them first, you know, and realize that she wanted something better for them,” Gipson expresses. A better life is what Gipson shares she wants to give the brothers. Having had three children of her own, Gipson is relearning how to be a mother of toddlers again, but it’s an experience she welcomes with joy. “Basically, give them everything that I got to offer to them, what I gave to my first three children,” Gipson says. During Gipson’s court hearing, 307th District Court Judge Tim Womack took the time to acknowledge the adoptive mothers’ efforts up until that point. “There’s just not many people… that have that in them. And you’re one of those very special people, so on behalf of this court …and me personally, I thank you so much for all that you have done and all that you will do,” said Womack. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, each year, approximately 700 to 900 foster youth age out of foster care.
Womack says that’s why their county’s adoption day means so much. “The fact that we get to do this once a year, bring some attention to this and hopefully, just like you said, maybe bring some new parents into the fold and maybe begin some new families,” Womack says. For people interested in helping children in the system, Gipson’s advice is to just go for it. “There are so many children, and they need that love. It’s nothing, like if you’ve raised one, you can raise another one,” Gipson says. Luckily, the energetic 3-year-olds will never have to go through life alone from this point forward.
If you would like to see kids available for adoption in East Texas, you can email [email protected] or visit the Heart Gallery East Texas.
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Arrow had an incredible time sponsoring the Supply Chain Golf Tournament! We connected with amazing individuals, shared our mission, and felt the overwhelming support from those eager to learn about the impact we’re making in children’s lives. It was a fantastic day of networking, community building, and fun on the course! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn more about Arrow. Together, we’re driving change for a brighter future!
Despite a rainy and muddy start on Saturday, September 28, 2024, Arrow Child & Family Ministries proudly participated in the Legacy Chase Event by sponsoring the Stick Pony Races for children 12 and under. Thankfully, the sun made its appearance just in time to dry things up and kick off the races! Due to the overwhelming interest, a total of seven Stick Pony Races were held, bringing so much joy to all the participating children.
Legacy Chase is an incredible family event filled with steeplechase racing, picnicking, and tailgating, or you can even entertain family, friends, or clients with your own tent. This event plays a crucial role in preserving a historic local working farm, ensuring it continues as a venue for steeplechase racing and family-friendly activities for the past 22 years. Managed by the Land Preservation Trust and local non-profits, the committee is made up of young professionals across Maryland who are passionate about preserving open spaces.
Arrow was honored to sponsor this amazing event, and we cherished every moment of sharing our impactful work with everyone who attended. Thank you to all who came out, supported us, and learned more about the difference we are making together. We can’t wait for what next year will bring!
Last month the Arrow Center for Education Tangram School staff proudly participated in the Autism Speaks Walk, raising both awareness and funds to support the autism community. @AutismSpeaks fuels innovative research and provides vital, lifelong resources and services.
We’re deeply grateful for the ongoing support from our parents, students, and staff, who helped us surpass our fundraising goal. Thanks to your generosity, the ACE Tangram Team raised $1,554.24 to further this important mission. 🙏 Together, we’re making a lasting impact!
Last month, Arrow proudly attended the Region 6B CPS Kinship Unit’s Fall Festival! Marlena Cantu, Alexis Hunt, and Scott Batson represented Arrow, hosting a fun bean bag toss and popular giveaways like tattoos, slime, and insects. Families enjoyed activities like a petting zoo, face painting, and tractor rides, with lots of interest in Arrow’s kinship program and Behavioral Health Services!
On October 24th, Arrow hosted a Young Professionals Happy Hour at Saint Arnold’s Brewery. This event was an opportunity for young professionals in the Houston area to learn about Arrow and the services we provide to children and families. Adrienne Walker Wilson provided an overview of the organization while Scott Batson offered some background information on the child welfare system in Texas. We had a great time introducing our organization to the attendees and sharing our mission to Help Kids & Strengthen Families!
The Arrow Team had an amazing time at Zoo BOO 2024 at the Maryland Zoo! Families enjoyed a day full of fun, trick-or-treating with the kids, and exploring numerous community and craft vendors. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with the Baltimore community and share about Arrow and Treatment Foster Care.
Our first priority in all programs is care and safety. We make an active and intentional effort to prevent child abuse, including verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, through implementing strict child safety protocols.
Arrow Child & Family Ministries is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is funded in part by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and The Maryland Department of Human Services.
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