BROWNSBURG — — Most people can’t imagine being foster parents and between the time and space required to take in children in need, many don’t attempt the feat.
However, one Hendricks County family has been fostering children for three years and has now taken it to the next level.
Terry and Ruth Blackburn, who currently have seven children living in their home, have been taking in and storing donated clothing and childcare items in their garage since they began foster parenting in January 2005. They have now been able to open a space for families with foster children to come and select items to help cover the cost of raising foster children for at least the first week of care.
The Blackburns opened Jordan’s Place at 1632 Northfield Drive, Suite 500, Brownsbrg, earlier this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Jordan’s Place is named after their adopted daughter, 3 1/2 year old Jordan.
At one point, the Blackburns had a family of seven move in with them.
“It just kind of evolved,” Terry Blackburn said. “We started having kids in our home and the family of seven was a big surge. We started asking for help and found there wasn’t much out there and other foster people are the same way.”
Jordan’s Place holds plastic totes that are filled with clothing for boys and girls of all ages, shoes, beds, coats, car seats, and other basic childcare items. The donations are all tax deductable.
The room also has a play area for children that come in with their foster parents.
“We have a play area for the kids, which helps break the tension of the situation,” Blackburn said. “It might be the middle of the night when they remove the children and they don’t have time to grab the child’s toys or clothes and call us and when they have to do that, and yeah I have to get up, but that’s OK. It’s all part of it.”
Blackburn retired from the U.S. Navy in 2005, which was when they got their first two foster children. Since then, they have hosted 68 foster children.
Most of the services making Jordan’s Place possible were donated by people in the community. Ernie Hacker, of Ernie and Sons Electric, wired the room for electricity.
“They’ve really been a blessing as far as I’m concerned,” Hacker said. “It’s a wonderful program and they’re really to be commended for what they’ve done here. There’s just so many children out here, and this is an all-around good program.”
The room where Jordan’s Place is housed was rented from Bill Simpson, owner of Impact Racing. Simpson lowered the room’s rent so the Blackburns were able to afford the space.
The group also got involved with the Hendricks County Community Foundation and became a non-profit organization and will be the recipients of the Hendricks County Neighborhood Food Network Drive for this month, so people can also get food and canned goods for their foster children, as well as clothing.
Ruth Blackburn knows that Jordan’s Place wouldn’t be possible without the help of the community.
“It’s been wonderful, the good so outweighs any negative.” she said. “It’s really amazing how many people have stepped forward and given a helping hand.”
The Sears store in Speedway donated a washing machine and clothes dryer, and representatives from Kohl’s, Chick-fil-A, and Subway were also on hand for the facility’s opening.
Terry Blackburn’s parents, Donald and Lectia of Frankfort, were at the opening and said it takes a big heart to be able to do something like what their son is doing.
“He’s never met a stranger in his life, he’s always been big-hearted,” Lectia Blackburn said. “He’s just got a big heart.”
Bryan Rhorer of InternetDesignWorks.com in Noblesville donated his web development services for the Jordan’s Place website.
“These kids need it, there is no greater cause than these kids,” Rhorer said. “Just because the parents are screwed up, doesn’t mean the kids have to be.”
Clothing and item donations can be made by bringing them to Jordan’s Place or by calling Blackburn at 710-9115 for a pickup or drop off. Monetary donations can be made to the Hendricks County Community Foundation in care of Jordan’s Place at 5505 E. Main Street, Suite A, Avon.
For more information on how and what to donate to Jordan’s Place, visit the website at www.jordans-place.org.
charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com
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