Adoptions for Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House’s Hope for Kids Holiday Project opened on October 13^th, giving community members a chance to “bring hope” to children who have experienced unimaginable trauma in the past year.

Hope for Kids serves around 250 children who have received services within the last year and meet certain criteria. Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House serves children who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse, as well as children who have witnessed a violent crime, through The Patticake House. Additionally, they serve children fleeing domestic violence with their family in the Ruth’s Cottage emergency domestic violence shelter.  

“All the children we serve with this project have been through so much,” said Nancy Bryan, Executive Director of RCPCH. “This is a great way for the community to get involved and bring these children hope and show them there are people out there who love them and care about them.”

Originally started as Suitcases for Kids over two decades ago and serving foster children in the Tift Judicial Circuit, alongside children served by RCPCH, the holiday project rebranded to Hope for Kids in 2022.

“When we first started this program, there were not the resources for foster children and their families that there are now,” said Melissa Wood, PCH Manager and Senior Forensic Interviewer. “The decision was made to change the project several years ago to ensure we weren’t duplicating any efforts with other organizations, and we renamed the project to reflect that change.”

In the same effort to ensure they are not duplicating efforts, Wood explained that the children served with HFK are not included on any other list, whether for Called to Care, Toys for Tots, or the YMCA Christmas. They work with local organizations in Tift County and surrounding counties to ensure these children are not being helped by anyone else.

“These children are not being served by any other organization, so when people donate to this cause or adopt a child, they can rest assured their money is going to a child truly in need of help and some hope this holiday season,” said Wood.

Civic organizations, workplaces, church groups, individuals, and families are all welcome to adopt a child. When adopting a child, the required items are: two full outfits, underwear or diapers, socks, one pair of pajamas, and at least two items from the child’s wish list. They will get information about the child, their age, and their sizes when they receive their adoption packet. All items must be new with tags still on them and unwrapped.

“This can be a great activity to give back this holiday season,” said Wood. “Whether you’re looking for a community service project to do with your co-workers, your church group, another club or organization, or with your children or grandchildren, this is a good one.”

In addition to adopting a child or sibling group, Bryan explained that community members can also donate directly to the cause on the RCPCH website (www.stopthehurtga.org), via Venmo, or by mailing a check to HFK PO Box 2727, Tifton, GA 31793. With these donations, staff from The Patticake House will shop for children who were not adopted by a community member.

“We really need our community’s support to make Hope for Kids possible this year,” said Bryan. “Our organization is facing several funding cuts at a time when expenses are so high. We need your support more than ever.”