By Vanessa Braithwaite
IT IS the first Christmas they will be spending in a safe, fun and family-oriented environment, and above all things, this is what makes the satisfaction dearer to the heart of foster parent Jonelle Wiggins -Archer, who, with the consent of her husband, Stephen, has opened up their home to three children, a three-year-old and twins aged seven months, for the holidays.

Jonelle is not rich, but she believes she has enough to put a smile on the faces of deserving children for the holidays and beyond, which is what has given her life some semblance of purpose.

Seeing the excitement on the three year-old’s face as he got his first Christmas toy, and took part in the decorating and Christmas preparation activities, Jonelle said, makes her feel that she is fulfilling what the real reason for the season is, and that is of expressing love, sharing, and reaching out to those in need. “It made me feel so happy, because, just carrying them to buy their toys made them excited. And I was thinking, ‘If they were where they were before, would they be so happy? Would a smile be on their face? Would they be looking at what other children got, and wondering if they would get too? But it is a wonderful feeling to know at Christmastime, you can make them happy. And even the twins… You know, even though they are small, you watch them and see them so joyful, smiling and bouncing, it brings a good sense of meaning for me,” Jonelle said.

THE JOURNEY

Her journey as a foster parent started decades ago when she fostered a little girl, who ended up living with her full-time. She was moved to do so after reminiscing on how she grew up in a poor home, as her mother was a single-parent of seven. While life did not start on the bright side for Jonelle, as she became a teenage mother and single-mother as well, her latter years took a turn for the better, and with the blessings she’s received from God ever since, she was determined to not enjoy it alone.

With a love in her heart, especially for children, Jonelle started her journey as a foster parent. Thus far, she would have fostered four children, two of whom have never left. In fact, since her first foster child, Jonelle is now fostering her three-year-old son. She recently learnt of a situation where six-month-old twin girls were hospitalised and in need of a safe home, and without hesitation, decided to step in. This Christmas, they are not in the hospital waiting to be picked up, but are in a safe, warm and comfortable home. “The motivating factor is the love I have for children. My mother was a single-parent of seven. She was a loving mother, and she always taught me that you have to give love to get love. And, growing up in a single-parent family with seven children, it was very challenging. And so, now, when I am an adult and life got better for me, I feel it is an obligation to help children to not grow up how I grew up,” she shared.

Throughout her life, she would have witnessed many children end up in unfavourable circumstances, and turning to a life of crime solely because of the environment they grew up in. And while a bad environment is not the only factor, Jonelle believes that growing up in a safe and secure one is what can make a child become a positive contributor to society, with a bright and secure future. “Seeing them grow in a safe and secure environment; seeing them grab a proper education, knowing that tomorrow they will be a better person, that satisfies me a lot,” she posited.

GRATIFYING
Seeing the satisfaction she gets from fostering children and bringing smiles to the faces of those in need during this season, Jonelle is encouraging all those who can, as there are hundreds of children in need of fostering, to not look at the burden, but at the reward. “Look at it as helping a life; as helping a child in the future. Once you in the position and you could, follow your heart; you are doing a good for a child, you are saving a life, not only for Christmas, but beyond.”