Adoption Matching Events Connect Waiting Foster Children with Forever Families

March 25, 2020 by master

The Bair Foundation helps connect waiting children in the foster care system with forever families at our 2nd annual Sweet Treats Permanency Matching event.

So what exactly is a Matching Event?

Matching Events allow waiting youth and waiting families to meet and gather together for an evening of games, activities, and connection-building.

Our most recent event was organized by The Bair Foundation’s Pittsburgh and New Wilmington Permanency departments, and included the assistance of permanency and foster care workers from our Altoona, New Wilmington and Harrisburg offices. It was held in Wexford, Pennsylvania at Orchard Hill Church, February 25, 2020.

The turnout was amazing, nearly 50 waiting youth from the Western Pennsylvania region attended as well as over 30 waiting families, and approximately 26 agencies. At the event, a Relaxation Station was available where youth could relax in a calm setting and participate in sensory-soothing activities. The youth and families spent the evening enjoying the ‘sweet treats’, candy bar, as well as engaging in fun activities, such as Jelly bean Toss (cornhole), Tumbling tower (Jenga), and cookie decorating.

Local businesses donated ‘sweet treats’ for the event, as well as monetary donations and prize baskets for the youth and families. All waiting youth left the event with a goodie-bag as a gift for coming. The event was a fun event for everyone that attended and one youth was heard stating, “This was the best day of my life!”

Our Hope…

It is our hope and prayer that as a result of this event, lasting connections between youth and families were formed that will continue to grow long-lasting relationships. These waiting youth are not only in need of permanent home, but positive and supportive adults. They also need adults to visit with them, send them a birthday card, have them over for holidays, and put simply- be there for them into adulthood. If you or someone you know if interested in fostering-to-reunify, fostering-to-adopt, or being a positive connection for a youth in need, please have them contact The Bair Foundation Child & Family Ministries at 1-800-543-7058 or info@bair.org

Special Thanks to Our Supporters

This event would not be possible without the support of the following donors for their contributions to fund and provide goods for this event:

· Orchard Hill Church

· Shannon’s Kandy Kitchen

· Giant Eagle Market District-Bethel Park

· Giant Eagle-Hermitage

· Waterfall Catering

· Batter and Dough

· Bethel Bakery

· Duck Donuts

· Cake Art By Carol

· Eat’n Park

· Little Ro Baking Co.

· Nothing bundt Cakes

· Sweet Creations-Delectable Desserts by Heather

· Walmart-Hermitage and Carnegie

· Zinc Connections, LLC

· Colwell Banker Real Estate Services-North Hills Office

· MBI (Mar-Bal Incorporated)

· Schutte Woodworking, LLC

· McJunkin Roll Offs Inc.

· Dallas W. Hartman P.C. Attorneys at Law

· Greenway Mortgage

· Mary Lou Sizer

· LaMangia

· Autism Connection of PA-staff support in Relaxation Room

· Kimberly Adler- Independent 31 Consultant

THANK YOU!