Fostering Love

After raising three kids of their own, Brenda and Bob Broschart decided it was time to give back and help children facing a difficult time of transition.

Though Brenda and Bob, in their late 40s and 50s, "could be off doing their own thing" they decided to become foster parents.

That was nearly two years ago and the Broschart family, of Northumberland, Pa., has had 15 different children stay at their home for various amounts of time.

"We felt that raising our kids was the best thing we did in our lives and we really enjoyed being parents," Brenda Broschart said Wednesday.

The Broscharts felt there was a great need to care for children in a difficult situation. They chose the county, rather than a private agency, because they wanted to help local children.

"This is where we live and where we should be helping," Brenda said.

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "foster" as "promoting the growth of" or "helping to develop or to nurture."

The Broscharts, and many other foster families in the United States are doing just that by providing a safe environment for children who need a place to go with their own parents can't take on the job.

"We wanted to help those parents who are having a struggle with taking care of their kids and we could be that in between, someone to step in and help out on a temporary basis," Brenda Broschart said.