Foster care awareness walk set for Saturday downtown Youngstown

Staff report

Youngstown

The Foster Parent Association of Mahoning County and Mahoning County Children Services is sponsoring an event to raise public awareness of children in foster care.

May is National Foster Care Month, and nearly 500,000 American children are in foster care.

A two-kilometer, foster-care awareness walk titled “Walk, Stroll, and Roll for Foster Care” will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Youngstown.

Foster Care Month provides a call to action for the community to come forward to support children in reaching their full potential, according to a press release.

The family-oriented walk is designed to promote awareness and response to the crisis faced by children in protective state custody and to raise interest in the need for foster care in the community, children services officials added.

The event starts and ends at the rear parking lot of Mahoning County Children Services, 222 W. Federal St. Community members are invited to walk down the sidewalks of West Commerce Street, Wick Avenue, West Federal Street, and North Chestnut Street.

Registration is $10 for adults, $5 for children, or $30 for families. There will be a visit from the Youngstown Fire Department, a crawl-through bouncer, face painting, crafts, and games. Free hotdogs and popcorn for all, additional refreshments and snacks will be available, as well numerous baskets for raffle.

For information on foster parenting, call children services at 330-941-8855.