By Mary Owen
Heidi Fosmark’s passion is helping children in crisis find a safe place to land.
“About five years ago, I was sitting in Foothills Church listening to a sermon and our pastor Tim Schabel had Police Chief Rich Sebens as a guest,” said Fosmark, married to husband, Trevor, for 19 years, and mother to 17-year-old triplets attending Stayton High School.
“Rich explained that there was a need for a safe place for teenagers who get picked up off the street at night to go besides the police station, which is tight on space, while their parents are being notified,” she added. “Pastor Tim also expressed a need for a place for abused women and children to find respite and support.”
Fosmark said her thoughts raced for three days after hearing about the need for help.
“I knew God was trying to tell me something, but I refused to believe that I was a person who could make any difference,” she said. “I was an extremely shy, insecure and inexperienced woman who had her hands full raising a family.”
But the seed planted that Sunday grew, and Fosmark shared her concerns about the community’s children and families with her friends. They discussed possible solutions, and she agreed to do some research. That was when she found Safe Families for Children, a nationwide organization providing food, shelter and hope for youth in crisis.
“It’s a movement of compassion that is preventing child abuse and other extreme family dysfunction by encouraging the church to resume its historical and biblical responsibility of hospitality for vulnerable children by becoming a part of the support network for these children’s parents,” Fosmark said.
For her work with New Growth Ministries, a community endeavor in partnership with Safe Families for Children, Fosmark was nominated for a CLOVER (Celebrating Leaders of Volunteer Excellence & Recognition) award, sponsored through the Mid-Valley Volunteer Managers Association.
Although Fosmark did not win, Sarah Lackner, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator with Safe Families for Children, Catholic Community Services, said Fosmark deserved to be recognized.
“Safe Families held a social at IKE Box Coffee Shop in Salem to present her with our version of the CLOVER because of how hard she works,” Lackner said.
“She is so humble.”
Modest about being recognized as Volunteer of the Year, Fosmark prefers to give credit to the other volunteers.
“I have worked with two other wonderful ladies from the very beginning, Beth Anundi and Darcey Pokorney,” she said. “Together we created New Growth Ministries, a community nonprofit ministry actively working in the Safe Families for Children movement, while also working to move toward other programs to support children and families.” Fosmark serves as the director of volunteers and services and is on the board of directors for New Growth Ministries.
“We have family coaches who make sure the child, host family and child’s family stays well connected, and guides all families involved through the process,” she said. “There are also family friends who provide such things as meals, transportation or mentoring. Right now, we have 22 families who volunteer within our community, and we still need a whole lot more.”
For information on New Growth Ministries, visit newgrowthshelters.com or
e-mail info@newgrowthshelters.com.
