DYK: There are 4,190 children currently in foster care in South Carolina, with 2,707 foster families? 1,642 of those children are in foster care in the Upstate.

In our community, there is a gap of 742 foster homes, according to Fostering Great Ideas, a Greenville-based non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of foster children. In S.C., 1,483 are needed to close the gap.

While these stats are shocking, there are many ways to make a difference:

Explore becoming a foster parent. Meet current foster parentsand hear their stories.
Attend the Great Big Benefit Bash this Friday (Nov. 3), benefitting Fostering Great Ideas. Enjoy a night filled with live music with the Brendan Williamson Jazz Quartet, hors d'oeuvres, open bar, desserts from Brick Street Cafe, silent auction, and heartfelt stories. Tickets are $65+.
Mentor a child in foster care. Fostering Great Ideas and Miracle Hill supervise mentors for over 100 children.
Financially support a child-serving organization. Explore what they do and see if it meets your vision for a better future for children in foster care.
Become an advocate. Call legislators, look to improve the judicial family court process, or join Speak Up, a group of citizens working to better the foster care system.
Prepare or donate part of a Thanksgiving feast (like FGI’s Thanksgiving Grace on the Saturday before Thanksgiving) for children and their families.
Grace Church has a full-time staff to guide people through the licensing and adoption process and to provide support to those who are fostering or have adopted. Learn about their program here.

Share your story. Have you been a foster parent or a child in foster care? Send us your stories, thoughts, + ideas over Facebook, email, or on our website.