By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

Big House Foundation, which began in Opelika, Lee County has established a second base to support foster children and families.

Big House Shelby County held a dessert buffet to spread the word at the Helena Community Complex on Monday, March 14.

Helena parents Jimmy and Rebekah Henderson related their own personal journey.

They are currently a family of 10 – four of their own and foster parents of six.

You may have seen them in their “big red van” around town.

“Some come and go in just a few hours, some stay for years and some stay forever,” said Rebekah Henderson, noting that there is both joy and heartbreak in the fostering process.

Micah Melnick, founder and executive director of Big House Foundation, spoke of the programs now underway, Clothes Closet – their first and largest program which provides over 4,000 new and gently used clothing items to kids and teens each year.

Birthday Club collects new toys for birthday presents.

Melnick told how she was inspired when her own parents became foster parents nine years ago and she realized that though she and husband, Blake, were not called to be foster parents, “We could do more, because you need a community.”

Donna McDow, volunteer coordinator of Big House Shelby County, told of reading in the sixth grade a book called “The Family That Nobody Wanted.”

This remained with her as she and her husband, Tim, had four children, adopted four and over the years, fostered some 50-plus children.

Matt Fridy encouraged “Help For the Journey” donations of the most needed items – diapers, baby wipes, underwear, socks, summer pajamas, toiletries and children’s Bibles as well as monetary contributions to help Big House Shelby County grow.

For more information see: Ourbighouse.org/Shelby-county. Or contact Donna McDow at (205) 281-6203.