Some people take a difficult situation and adopt the victim mentality. In other words, they “take it personally”. However, there are others who, due to the personal nature of the situation, choose to become involved with the hope of making a difference. These people “Make it personal” in an extremely positive way to help change things, not just for those closest to them, but for anyone facing similar challenges.

I have the honor of knowing such a person. Her name is Donna White. I met her a few years ago when I started working with her husband Chip. There was an amazing level of honesty about this couple, and as time went by, I began to see how truly special they really are. Barb and I met them for dinner in Las Vegas (before all the “Stay at home” orders came out). Donna shared with us that her ministry was growing beyond her expectations. Her passion for helping foster families was so personal that she started “Hannah’s Closet”. I had to learn more, so I reached out to her with some questions. Donna agreed to an interview and to opening up about her family, how she and Chip have built a wonderful life as foster parents, and created a legacy through this unique charity.

How was Hannah’s Closet started?
Our first foster placement… Hannah… came to us with nothing but the clothes on her back and a court teddy bear. I talked with other foster parents and found this was not uncommon, so back then I started Hannah’s closet in our garage.

This charity is a resource center for foster parents to be able to shop for free for clothing or any other necessities a child might need. Hannah’s Closet moved from our garage to a storefront on November 19th, 2019. It is now part of the Hope Church outreach “Fostering Hope” ministry and is supplied by community donations and assistance from the church. Hannah’s Closet helps more than 250 children a month with anything from a toothbrush all the way up to cribs and strollers and anything in between. A second location in North Las Vegas was also started. While we are funded separately, we do share donation resources when needed. Within the foster community here in Las Vegas, we all help each other whenever we can.

When and why did you and Chip decide to become foster parents?
There was a single father that started coming to our church, trying to get his life on track, so he could get his 3 daughters out of the Foster care system in Kentucky and back with him. We helped him get back on his feet and get a place. We started picking up the girls on the weekends and letting them stay with us so they could see him at church. They quickly became part of our family. (to us and our children). He started using drugs again, lost his apartment, his job, and went off the radar, quit coming to church, and disappeared. We decided we’d try to adopt those three young ladies whose mother was out of the picture and whose father we knew would never get it together to get them. So we restructured our house to have an extra bathroom and bedrooms. We then started taking classes to get these girls. Then the mom, out of nowhere, on our final class to be foster parents, shows up from Tennessee and got the kids. We decided that things happen for a reason, and since we were now set up and trained, we began our Foster Parenting journey.

How many children have you fostered?
We’ve fostered 21 Children… so far, and adopted 2 of them. Also, we have 3 biological children who are grown up, out of the house, and “Bringers of Grandchildren”!

What have you learned through your experience as Foster Parents?
Every child is unique. Their wants, needs, discipline, love languages, and everything about them is different. But the one thing that is constant is that those that we can build a connection with do well. Unfortunately, sometimes they aren’t with you long enough to make a strong connection.

How can people donate to Hannah’s Closet?
The easiest way is to contact them through Facebook.
(Hannah’s closet south on Facebook messenger)

What advice would one of your foster children give to foster children in other families?

Ashley: “Take advantage of the help offered. Don’t just try to get through it and
get out of the system.”

Lynn: “Give people a chance beyond their first appearance.”

Andria: “Don’t judge someone because they are or do things differently than you.”

Ariah: “Don’t lose hope and keep on fighting to change yourself for the better. Ask for help.”

What advice do you have for parents who are considering becoming foster parents?
Please do. Some think they’re not ready or wouldn’t be good enough parents. Some think they’ll get too attached. But both of these get more emphasis than they deserve… and it’s the kids who really need these parents that miss out.

What has been your greatest success, and what has been your greatest challenge as a foster parent?

Greatest Success: The satisfaction of seeing these kids grow up and overcome the obstacles that life put in their path.

Greatest Challenge: There was one child we never heard from again after they reunified with their family. But, even if you do keep up with them, there are some that continue the generational cycle.

What other thoughts would you like to share regarding your journey?
It’s not easy being a Foster Parent. The system, the trauma, the challenges… both academic and financial. But I guarantee this. You would do it again even knowing what you would be in for. Just like couples/women having a baby. You know it’s not going to be easy, but it is so worth it.

Due to the current social distancing guidelines, Hannah’s Closet is only accepting “emergency” donations. Normal operations will resume as soon as socially safe to do so. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about Hannah’s Closet, please…
Visit them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hannahs.closet.south/
Watch the recent FOX 5 interview:
https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/hannah-s-closet-provides-support-for-valley-foster-families/article_33ac26e2-491e-11ea-9e7c-aba1b8a9ed60.html

I’ve reflected on Donna’s final thoughts quite often this week as the global health concerns continue to affect each of us in different ways. “It’s not easy,” she said, “but it’s worth it.” As you make choices and decisions going forward, remember those words. Maybe you’re considering becoming a Foster Parent. Maybe you’d like to make a donation to Hannah’s Closet or any other organization helping those in need. Maybe… just maybe… those words are the encouragement you need to get through a challenging day.

Photo: “The White Family”
Back Row: Mia, Ashley, Ariah
Front Row: Lynn, Chip, Donna, Andrea

If you know someone who has chosen to “Make it personal”, please contact me with their story as I’d like to feature more people who have taken a challenging situation and created a positive impact.