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Fostering Dreams offers special experiences for foster children
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Fostering Dreams, an advocacy organization for foster children and other youths in need, began with an idea that evolved from the foster-care experiences of Mary and Bob Noble, its founders.
The Nobles have four biological children and two adopted children. They’ve fostered 69 children so far.
“We started to see what they don’t get,” Bob said. “Some experiences just aren’t allowed by law.”
Mary explained those restrictions may include sleepovers, playing sports, driving and traveling across state lines. She said these rules may prevent foster children from participating in activities that other children normally experience.
The Nobles said foster children miss out on more than activities. “There’s an emptiness in their eyes,” Mary said. “Foster children find themselves with people they don’t know for reasons that they don’t understand.”
Her husband said, “Many are just in survival mode.”
On their website, www.fosteringdreams.net., the Nobles write, “Seeing the parade of these young, broken, abused and hurting children coming to our home led to the realization that the magic and wonder of life that many of us take for granted often does not exist in the lives of these children. Their struggle to survive leaves little time for dreams, enchantment and magic.”
Mary said her initial idea was a nice tea party for girls. Somehow that developed into a Princess-at-Heart Gala. The gala took place in August 2014 at The Magic Tree in Boardman, which provided a room and food for the event. Servers donated their time.
Word got around about the project; the generosity of Mahoning Valley residents and businesses poured forth.
Donations of dressy clothes for children and evening wear for youths were made. Services also were donated for makeup and hair. Mary credited Jacqueline’s Bridal in Poland for dress and shoe donations and help with hair and makeup.
DJ Nick Danyi stepped up to provide music, and Candace Becker of Gold Cross Limousine provided free limousine service. Various photographers volunteered to chronicle the event and distribute photos.
The third annual gala is planned for Aug. 7 at The Magic Tree, 7463 South Ave., and Valley residents and businesses again are providing items and services to make it memorable for some 85 young participants. The Nobles said cooperation from the Mahoning County Children Services Board also makes the event possible.
All this activity and donations made the Nobles realize they needed a base of operations, more than storage at their home in Poland could provide.
About the same time, 545 Management Group, which had bought the former Our Lady of Hungary Church, 545 N. Belle Vista Ave., in 2012, was set to auction the property. The group had planned to turn the former church into Youngstown History Center, but a capital campaign fell short. The group decided to sell.
The Nobles bought the property for $21,000. On the 1 1/2 acres are the church, rectory, pavilion and green space. “I think they liked our vision of what we were going to do,” Mary Noble said. An anonymous donor bought three lots on Midland Avenue that abut the property. That’s earmarked for parking.
The Nobles must replace the heating and cooling system in the former church. “We were told the boiler is too old to fix, but the duct work is in place,” Bob said. The plan is to have four furnaces so that different zones can be heated or cooled as needed, he said.
The former sanctuary now has a boutiquelike look, where about 800 dressy children’s clothes and evening wear are stored. It’s here the foster children will select dresses for the gala. There also are dressy shoes and purses and even some tiaras to complete the princess look. “We want them to have a princess experience,” Mary said. “This is wonderful, positive attention.”
Bob added comments that he has overhead include “I’m really a princess” as one young girl saw herself in the mirror after getting dressed. A 16-year-old, who originally said she “didn’t want to be part of princess crap,” wondered if she could get a dress. Bob said she picked out a green dress and was simply “drop-dead gorgeous.” He heard her say, “No one has ever been this nice to me.”
The church’s downstairs hall has a “nice kitchen,” Bob said. “That’s where we plan to have some life-skills courses.”
He pointed out that when foster children age out of the system in their late teens, most haven’t cooked for themselves. A cooking class will serve a practical purpose.
The rectory will be a multipurpose gathering place for various activities. Computers donated by Youngstown State University will be available for youths to use.
Mary, a systems analyst at YSU, applauded her employer for generosity. She said YSU also hosts foster children at tailgate parties for football and basketball games.
Of Fostering Dreams activities, Bob Noble said, “This is feeding the soul.