Jordan’s Place • In the Press
Sept 19th 2008 • An overflow of generosity • Indianapolis Star
Family starts Jordan’s Place, a 1-stop supply center for foster parents
By Josh Duke of the Indianapolis StarWhen Terry and Ruth Blackburn became foster parents in 2005, they didn’t realize it took more than compassion and love to provide a safe environment for children.
Often, youngsters come to the door in the middle of the night with only the clothes they are wearing. In some cases those clothes may be worn out or even soiled. They have no toys, furniture or food.“We started asking friends and family for children’s clothing that we could have on hand,” Terry Blackburn said. “Before we knew it, our garage was full of clothes, toys, car seats and other necessities any foster parent would need.”
By the summer of 2006, representatives from the Department of Child Services noticed the collection of items the Blackburns had in their Brownsburg home and asked if they would share supplies with other foster parents. The Blackburns willingly accepted, and a concept was born.Jordan’s Place, named after the Blackburns’ 3-year-old adopted daughter, opened Tuesday to supply necessities to foster parents.
“This goes above and beyond what somebody can do to help us, and definitely something that was needed in this county,rdquo; said Andrea Goodwin, director of Hendricks County’s Department of Child Services. “The Blackburns have been mentors for the foster care community in our county, and it has blossomed into this.”Nearly 70 plastic tubs of clothing separated by age, gender and season line the floor of Jordan’s Place, which is in a small office in a business park along Northfield Drive. The office also has shelving for food and other necessities, and an area to display bigger items such as baby beds and bassinettes.
Foster parents can come to Jordan’s Place when they lack the basic necessities for the first week of care for a child brought to them. Parents can return the items, but it isn’t required, Blackburn said.“Jordan’s Place gives foster parents the ability to say ‘OK“ to a child even if they don”t have everything they need at the time for them, ” he said.
The Blackburns said that when they began looking at locations to move the storage out of their garage and possibly create a business, they found rent was too expensive.They learned starting the business as a nonprofit agency could help make it happen. The Blackburns became affiliated with the Hendricks County Community Foundation, the rent was lowered on a building owned by racing entrepreneur Bill Simpson, and their effort began to materialize.
“It was an absolute miracle, because I had talked until I was blue in the face but nothing came together,” Blackburn said.
The business will not slow down the Blackburns’ willingness to accept foster children. Since becoming foster parents in January 2005, they have provided a temporary home for 68 children, including Jordan, the only foster child they have adopted. In addition, they have three children of their own, ages 20, 18 and 15.At Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting, Chick-fil-A and Subway provided food and entertainment, and Sears Outlet in Speedway gave a washer and dryer to clean donated items.
“This is really wonderful,” said Linda Larkins, a Brownsburg foster parent who visited the shop Tuesday. “It will be so nice to have a place like this where we can come to get what we need to get us started, because in foster care you get the child but nothing happens right away in terms of getting funds to support them.”Sept 19th 2008 • Jordan’s Place offers clothing for foster children
by Charlee Beasor of Hendricks County FlyerBROWNSBURG INDIANA – 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, Brownsburg, earlier this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Jordan’s Place is named after their adopted daughter, 3 ½ 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. Ther’es 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 Rohrer 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,” Rohrer 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 (317) 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.