Quota Cares Month—Honorable Mention Winner
Quota International of Bundaberg

Foster parents are in short supply in Queensland, Australia, and the Quota club of Bundaberg initiated a new project this Quota Cares Month to recognize those already filling this important role as well as recruit new potential foster parents.

The club members chose Sunday, March 11, the first day of Foster Care Week to host a morning tea for the adults and take the children on a face-painting bus ride. The local newspaper, the News-Mail, even provided their double-decker, English-style "Red Bus" for the event in addition to providing some of the extensive news coverage garnered by this event, which also included a feature on the local television news.

Planning began well in advance of the event and included a working bee where members decorated memory books that were given to each of the foster children along with gift bags containing everything from toothbrushes to toys. The Bundaberg Quotarians also gathered raffle items for the adults and prepared sandwiches and other food to serve while manning a display about the work of Quota locally and around the world.

A variety of local organizations signed on to partner with Quota and provide informational displays and presentations on child safety, youth employment, and disability services for the foster parents in attendance. Public officials also joined Quota in paying tribute to local foster parents, including Bundaberg Mayor Cr. Kay McDuff and State Government Minister Jack Dempsey. These two shared the honor of cutting the Foster & Kinship Care Week 2007 cake, provided by the club, and presenting each foster parent with a certificate of appreciation.

While the children and families will remember this day of celebration for some time, the Quotarians took special care to memorialize it in a hand-print collage made with the help of those in attendance and formally presented to the state foster care agency for display.

To read or print the club's winning application, click here*.

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