Fostering Hope

Children in foster care often suffer painful separations from their families for reasons they may not understand. They are often confused, sad and angry. Together, with the help of their family, friends and community, Megan Boswell and Michelle Morgan are on a mission to mitigate the pain and distress associated with the process.

A new case

One night, in 2014, it was around 9 p.m. when Megan and Adam Boswell of Corning received a phone call from a social worker that they were needed. The worker, on the other end of the line, had a child who was removed from their home and in need of emergency shelter.

The Boswells, who already had a foster child in their home, woke that child up, explained the emergency, and that there would be another child in the house by morning.

“We said, ‘You’re welcome to go back to sleep, but, if you wake up and hear something, you know what’s going on,’” said Megan.

Knowing a child would be arriving soon, the Boswells called Adam’s parents and asked them to be on standby to run to the store for supplies. Since they had been through the experience before, they knew they would need clothes, possibly car seats and other items, depending on the child’s, or children’s, age.

Within an hour, two children were dropped off at their door – with nothing but the clothes on their back.

Megan said the next days were a whirlwind of getting the children cleaned up and settled in, investigations, and interviews. But, more importantly, making sure the children felt safe and that they knew they would be OK.

“One of them was young enough they couldn’t communicate with us and kind of confused about everything going on,” said Megan. “So much in shock, and so worked up. Sleeping was not an option.”

It was a very long night.

​Fostering Hope

With two additional children in the home, the Boswells spent quite a bit of money, out of their own pockets,  to purchase the basic items needed to care for the children.

“I just kept thinking, there has got to be something out there to help in this kind of situation,” said Megan.

It was at that time that Megan learned of Kaden’s Kloset, a volunteer-driven, non-for-profit organization, that exists to provide services and supplies – such as clothing, car seats, toys, blankets and books – for foster and adoptive children and families. But, the nearest one is in Des Moines.

“In an emergency situation like what we had, that was not an option,” said Megan.

While brainstorming with fellow Adams County foster mom, Michelle Morgan, the two attempted to get a Kaden’s Kloset location in southwest Iowa.

“We weren’t getting much traction of getting it started through their organization,” said Megan. “One day, we just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s just do this. We can do this.’’

The women, who are members of First Presbyterian Church in Corning, approached other members and urged them to make this a part of the church’s mission. They proposed a location, how it would be run, and what they would need. The response? Overwhelming support.

So, their very own “closet,” which they named Fostering Hope, was established.

Megan said she wants other foster parents and children to know that they are a resource that transcends the physical items they provide.

“Hopefully they can see us as a shoulder to cry on, as someone to lean on, because it is scary,” said Megan.

She said she hopes the convenience is helpful, because for so many social workers and families, the first few days are a blur.

“If we can bring some relieve, some understanding, and some hope through this, that is our main goal,” said Megan.

The calling

Helping other foster and adoptive families is a mission near and dear to Megan’s heart.

“I grew up in a very loving family, but we were also very much touched by adoption,” said Megan.

Megan said she has numerous cousins and extended family members who are adopted.

“Adoption was always a normal conversation,” said Megan. “It’s something we always talked about as kids. Some of the most amazing people in my life have been adopted and the gifts they bring to the family are just amazing.”

So, from a young age, Megan knew she wanted to adopt. So much so, when she began dating her husband, she said she “dropped the adoption bomb,” on him.

“I really feel like there are so many kids that need or want a home that is loving, open and strong,” said Megan.

Megan acknowledged there are other foster and adoptive parents who have different reasons for fostering and adopting children, such as infertility, but, for the Boswells, it was done completely by choice.

“They deserve that. And, I really felt called to be able to offer that,” she said.

The process

In the spring of 2013, Megan had been researching private adoptions and overseas adoptions when her husband approached her with an idea.

“Have you ever thought about foster care and working toward adoption?” Adam asked.

Megan said the idea never crossed her mind, because every adoptee she knew of had been adopted through private adoptions and it was all she really knew.

They began researching the process, and from there, everything fell into place.

The Boswells, then 26-years-old, quickly entered into a 10-week training class at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs. Once their licensing went through on Sept. 1, 2013, they received their first foster child 22 days later. That same child, who was 5 years old at the time, is now their oldest adopted son.

Today, the Boswells have have four adopted children ages 10 , 8, and 3 years old, and 18 months.

“I feel so grateful that Adam came to me and said what he said, when he said it, because had he not, we wouldn’t have had them,” said Megan. “And, I can’t imagine them not in our lives.”

Community support

One practice Megan adopted from Kaden’s Kloset was creating emergency kits for foster families.

With the help of donations from community members and volunteers, Megan and Michelle collect and package backpacks, or some kind of carrier, with items such as a blanket, toiletries, books, pajamas and  underwear.

“It’s for a grab and go situation,” said Megan.

Megan said it’s an invaluable resource for social workers in the region because they don’t have these items always readily available like workers in Polk and Dallas counties might, nor do local social workers have the ability to drive to Des Moines on a moment’s notice.

“Here, we have workers that are stretched over multiple counties, and it just makes it extra hard for everyone involved,” said Megan.

Two years ago, Megan started a sewing group, Stitches and Gobs, where members create blankets for these emergency kits.

Last year, Megan put out the call to area quilters, her church congregation, community members, friends and family, to donate fabric, blankets, quilts and unfinished quilt tops to her sewing group. With the collective help of these people, Megan initially collected 40 blankets and quilts to donate to Angel Tree Camps, an organization that sends the children of incarcerated adults to summer camp.

Through this camp, every child goes home with a blanket that has been made especially for this cause.

“While they are there (at camp), they have the opportunity to get some new clothes, make some new friends, and talk about things that they don’t get to talk about with just anybody,” said Megan. “And, hopefully they open up, see love, care and hope in the world.”

This past November, Megan put out the call to Patches & Pieces Quilt Guild and attended Joyce Franklin’s November quilt retreat in Creston. Through the guild members and retreat attendees, Megan was able to collect additional quilts. The volunteers and donors quickly blew past Megan’s goal of collecting 40 quilts by the end of the year.

“We were able to do 75 blankets (quilts), which went to different DHS offices to serve southwest Iowa,” said Megan.

Megan said the response was shocking.

“It just blew me away,” she said.

According to Megan, the timing was important. She said when children are removed from their homes near the holiday season, it is a true emergency.

While not every donated quilt is intricate, Megan said the handmade gifts are special.

“To a kid, that comfort item that is theirs, that is unique, and everything that was created forthem, could be a life-changing moment,” she said. “So, we hope that we are giving more than just a blanket.”

Heavy stuff

Megan felt that creating the services offered through Fostering Hope was the least she could do for the foster and adoptive care community.

“What is really heavy for me right now is that there are literally kids that are sitting in shelters that have no place to go,” said Megan. “There’s not enough space to go around. That is truly heartbreaking.”

Megan said she would take more children in her home if she could.

“I’ve had many kids in and out of my doors,” she said. “And knowing, if I had more room, if I had more space, if I had a bigger home and could take on more, I would. Not being able to do that is hard for me.”

For now, she wants to be the go-to resource for other families going through the same experience she once did.

Fostering Hope is inside the First Presbyterian Church, 907 Grove Ave., in Corning. It is open by appointment by calling Megan Boswell, 641-226-1908, or Michelle Morgan, 641-202-1995.