About AWF

Our journey started over ten years ago in a small town of Moncks Corner South Carolina with one question from my mother in law.  The question was “Son, do you think I should get into foster care?” and even though I knew this woman as a very caring a thoughtful person, and even though she is the woman that helped me become a minister at our church, I had a hard time answering her.  The question brought back some personal memories from my past.  The reality is I was in the foster system at a young age and I never thought about it in such a different perspective before. 

 

At the age of seven, my two brothers and I were separated from our parents and placed into a group home facility for boys.  While in the facility, my brothers and I were all separated according to our ages, so I felt all alone in less than two days.  I was later placed into my first foster home and it was confusing and upsetting.  My opinion during family discussions were not allowed, my coping skills were drawing any time I felt angry, sad, or anxious and it was not implemented while in the placement.  I would later be placed back into the group home facility with my brothers yet again, being mostly separated most of the days. 

 

During my second placement I was shown a lot of care and attention even while this family had four biological kids of their own.  They wanted to understand more about me and gave me space when needed and discipline according to my action and it was on the same level as the biological children, so I did not feel like a number or a burden.  They allowed me to draw and took interest in it just like my biological parents did. I remained with this foster placement, though I cannot recall how long I was only seven, but after being reconnected with my biological family I maintained contact with them long after. 

 

My mother in law would later open her home to many placements and me and my wife and family supported her in any means possible.  We became so involved we would transport the children back and forth to church, to the movies, to the mall even on family vacations to Florida.  It felt good. Later, my wife approached me and suggested us opening our home as well; and with the support of my entire family including my two young daughters, we did.  For the past ten years, we’ve been involved in foster care.  We have been able to impact over 100 children lives albeit placements, respite, and transportation to church and appointments. While our home was open, we noticed that we would receive calls for placements of teenage girls for the most part.  I thought it was due to us having two biological daughters and yet we were told it was hard to find long placements for the older females. Just like that we knew we had to do more for them.  We prayed and asked the Lord to guide us on this journey to be a supporting factor in the lives of his children.  Just like that we would establish the nonprofit known as the Angel Wings Foundation. I feel like I can say thank you to the family that impacted my life during my time in the system.