NILES Children host going-away party for their devoted foster parents

NILES -- Tears and laughter mixed at an emotional going-away party recently for a couple who had devoted their hearts to at-risk young people.
The party, held at the 165 E. Park Ave. offices of Homes for Kids, was arranged by two foster children of Lee and Helen Bostick, of 250 Seneca St., Youngstown.
Lee, 58, and Helen, 55, both have ailing mothers who live in Florida and must go there to care for them. They are unable to take their foster children with them.
The two boys, 14 and 12, are required by law to remain in Ohio.
But the youngsters didn't want the Bosticks to go without showing their appreciation. They decorated a meeting room with banners and ribbons and invited other foster parents and children, as well as staff, to share cake, food and soft drinks with the Youngstown couple.
Lee Bostick reminded the Mahoning Valley that there is a powerful need for foster parents in this area and across the nation. Without such dedicated individuals willing to stand up for children, it becomes much harder to give them a real chance at life, he noted.