“ADOPTED” WAR ORPHANS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 69, 6 January 1947, Page 4

“ADOPTED” WAR ORPHANS

GIFTS FROM AMERICAN STUDENTS

INDIVIDUALLY CARED FOR

More than 475,000 American students have “adopted” war orphans overseas during the past year, through the Foster Parents’ Plan for War Children, states a recent edition of an American newspaper.

Mrs Edna Blue, Executive Chairman, describing the way the plan is working. The young Americans individually—or more often in groups —are paying 15 dollars a month for the support of each war child, she said. Many also send toys and letters to give the youngsters the feeling of being individually cared for. During the past year, youths in 211 high schools, 67 primary schools, 39 colleges and 34 Sunday schools have participated. And as present fall terms get under way, fund raising is beginning again in many student councils and classrooms, it was learned. Toys, picture books, clothing, and other “extras” are being collected. In return, the young donors receive photographs and brief histories of the children. Many of the children overseas have responded by sending back letters, often profusely illustrated. The war children are being housed in foster homes in France, England, Italy, Malta, Holland and Belgium. Many children now in the homes were released from concentration camps. Most are without families. In the foster homes they are receiving care from social workers specially trained to give help and understanding to children who have lived through difficult times. More than 44,000 children have been helped by the Foster Parents Plan during the past nine years, with the support of thousands of adult “foster parents,” as well as of student “foster brothers and sisters.” “Support given to children overseas by the students of America has forged a bond of understanding,” Mrs Blue declared. Recently returned from a two-month survey of conditions overseas, she' said that there is a continuing urgent need for help among the children of Europe.