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Tiny Texas Town Opens Its Homes To 76 Children In Need
TODAY News
By Scott Stump, TODAY contributor
December 14, 2012
The tiny Texas town of Possum Trot has no stoplights, no street names -- and one huge heart. Over the last 16 years, 25 families in the working-class community have adopted 76 children in need, opening their homes in a town that is struggling financially to the point where the local food bank is empty and has been closed for months.
Sixteen years ago, W.C. Martin, the pastor of the local Bennett Chapel Baptist church, helped organize his congregation to help foster children in need, believing they should have regular homes after so much hardship.
“It’s not a whole lot that we have to offer children right here in Possum Trot,’’ Martin told NBC News’ Craig Melvin. “But love, peace and joy and happiness – we can offer them that.’’ Martin and his wife, Donna, have adopted four children themselves.
“The challenge with the kids is (them not) really, really trusting the love that you have to give them unconditionally,’’ Donna Martin told Melvin. “Some of them were beaten, molested by family members, just the most horrible things.’’ The foster families have gone to great lengths to care for their children despite often facing their own difficult financial circumstances.
“Our financial struggles, they’re devastating,’’ Donna Martin said. “But you can’t bring these kids into your home and not prepare them for their future.’’
MORE
By Scott Stump, TODAY contributor
December 14, 2012
The tiny Texas town of Possum Trot has no stoplights, no street names -- and one huge heart. Over the last 16 years, 25 families in the working-class community have adopted 76 children in need, opening their homes in a town that is struggling financially to the point where the local food bank is empty and has been closed for months.
Sixteen years ago, W.C. Martin, the pastor of the local Bennett Chapel Baptist church, helped organize his congregation to help foster children in need, believing they should have regular homes after so much hardship.
“It’s not a whole lot that we have to offer children right here in Possum Trot,’’ Martin told NBC News’ Craig Melvin. “But love, peace and joy and happiness – we can offer them that.’’ Martin and his wife, Donna, have adopted four children themselves.
“The challenge with the kids is (them not) really, really trusting the love that you have to give them unconditionally,’’ Donna Martin told Melvin. “Some of them were beaten, molested by family members, just the most horrible things.’’ The foster families have gone to great lengths to care for their children despite often facing their own difficult financial circumstances.
“Our financial struggles, they’re devastating,’’ Donna Martin said. “But you can’t bring these kids into your home and not prepare them for their future.’’
MORE
- Love, love, love. Love is all you need.....
17 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Your point is that despite the good that's being done here, you want to focus on how "evil" you think Walmart is. Frankly, I don't give a crap why they kept a food bank open. They did and kids are not starving.
You know it is okay to hate Walmart but like what they did in this case.
...but I'd start here.
