Isaiah 1:17 House nets grant, serves community

It was only a matter of time before the Isaiah 1:17 House in Putnam County served its first child in the foster care system.

According to Adele Sprinkles, site director, all is well.

"It is going well. We would like to be busier, and we know we will get there. We are meeting with surrounding county DCS offices as well to let them know we are available for them as well," Sprinkles told The Putnam County Post.

With a core mission of reducing trauma for children on the day they are removed from their homes by the Department of Child Services, Isaiah 1:17 House of Putnam County recently got a huge shot in the arm, winning a $20,000 unrestricted grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation as part of the Ruby Anniversary Grants Program. 

"It was great to win the grant, especially when the other four  organizations were so deserving as well. We don’t have a specific plan for the grant money. It will go into our operating account which will help us when we buy food or clothes for kiddos that are in the home. It also helps to be able to help DCS with children’s needs such as clothing, bedding and school supplies, even if those kids don’t come to our home," Sprinkles said. 

While DCS workers are at the house all the time, Sprinkles said the Isaiah 1:17 volunteers play a key role as well. 

"We are there to entertain the kids, feed them, engage with them and just take their minds off their current situation for a small amount of time until DCS is able to place them with other family members or a good foster family," she said. 

And, Sprinkles said the need for a house in Putnam County is "great."

"We are geared for one family at a time, or, possibly, two if we can separate the house. When the DCS worker brings the children in, we will try to make it fun for them, give them clean clothes and try to spoil them when they are with us. We do whatever they want to do because on this day, they don't have a lot of choice in anything. We want to give them some choices and make them feel like they have a little control over their life," Sprinkles said. 

Beyond Homeless Inc., Family Support Services of West Central Indiana, Greencastle Civic League and Putnam County CERT each received $5,000 in unrestricted grants, as well.