By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Foster care in North Carolina has never been in greater demand. The Speckled Trout Outfitters is raising awareness as well as raising money for a non-profit organization, The Mayfly Project, that is addressing some of the foster care challenges.
The 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament benefiting the local chapter of The Mayfly Project is Saturday, Sept. 23, 12 noon to 5 p.m. The entry fee is $40 per team of two. Music and beer will be available throughout the day, the event ending with awards and raffle prizes.
All proceeds from the $40 entry fee, raffle tickets, and the sale of donated beer from Lost Province will go directly to funding the Mayfly Project local chapter.
While not necessary, pre-registration is encouraged for competition planning purposes. CLICK HERE for pre-registration.
The Mayfly Project is a nationally-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit that uses fly fishing as a catalyst to mentor children in foster care. The mission is to support children in foster care through fly fishing and introduce them to their local water ecosystems. By rewarding the children to a rewarding hobby, the goal is to provide an experience for foster children that is fun, that supports them, and leaves them with a connection to the outdoors.
Adoption Choice, a private non-profit adoption agency describes the many challenges faced by children in foster care, at least some of which are addressed head-on through the mentoring and experiences facilitated by The Mayfly Project.
- Grief and Loss: All children who enter foster care experience grief and loss due to the separation from their biological family. This happens whether or not the child has an abusive or neglectful background. It happens even to babies, who have had nine months in utero to get used to the sounds and rhythms of their biological mother.
- Fear and Anxiety: Children who enter foster care experience fear and anxiety. While the children are placed with people who have been determined able to provide a safe place, children still need to learn to trust the new adult(s) in their lives. Some of the children who come into care have not attached well to anyone in their family.
- Multiple Placements: Children often experience multiple placements which happen for reasons such as foster parents leaving the program or children needing a home more suited to their specific needs. These placements make attachment and trust much more difficult for foster children.
- Difficulty Trusting Adults: Many foster children have no reason to trust adults and this makes it difficult when they are in school, where most children generally trust teachers. It is important to remember that, in order to survive both emotionally and physically, foster children have had to rely on only themselves. Through patience, time, good parenting, and teamwork, these children can come to trust adults.
- Fragmentation of services due to moves: Services such as education, therapy, and medical care are fragmented when children move from place to place. At times, these services end up being worthless as the fearful children have no clear sense of who will take care of them.
