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ANDOVER – The urgent need for foster parents in the county was discussed on Wednesday, May 8, during the Pymatuning Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting at Andover Public Library through guest speaker, Shannon Harnichar. (From May 17 edition).

According to Harnichar, Homes for Kids has been in the business of foster care since 1990 in Niles, but she stated that when it first started often they were providing homes to children because of gang involvement and juvenile delinquency.
Today, their organization is much different because of the opioid epidemic and now they have an office in Ashtabula in order to try and provide foster homes more locally to those that need them.
Harnicar said that Ashtabula County is a struggle in being a large county and that there are a lot of sad stories of kids being pulled from their homes and schools.
In hopes of changing this system, Harnicar said that she is looking for foster parents in Ashtabula County so that kids can stay where they grew up.
Foster parents must be 21 years of age, do not have to be married, must show that they are making enough income to cover their own bills so that they are not using the per diem offered for fostering for themselves, as well as must undergo 36 hours of training.
Then once a foster parent is trained, the parents can then decide age, gender, as well as other specifications they want in their child and be offered reimbursement for daily care of the child.
In addition to pairing kids to parents, Homes for Kids has been certified as a mental-health provider since 2005 and offer counselors as well as are working towards becoming an adoption agency.
For further information on Homes for Kids, please visit www.hfk.org, FosterAndAdopt.jfs.ohio.gov, or call (440) 990-2377.
In addition to information on Homes for Kids, the Chamber also went over upcoming plans for this spring and summer, including their need for help planting flowers and cleaning up the square at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, in preparation for Memorial Day, as well as their need for volunteers to introduce the band and
pass the hat at this year’s People in the Park concerts within Pymatuning State Park-Main Beach.
It was also announced by President Lara Reibold that membership renewals are scheduled to go out and that they are still collecting for flags and flowers through Christy Paul if anyone wants to donate, while thanking those that have already. Reibold also thanked the volunteers that helped with this year’s Brenda Merill/ Chuck Thobaben Awards breakfast and Andover Easter Egg Hunt, which both went well.
In news and comments, Reibold announced she needs someone to be in charge of the kids’ activities this year at their Pymatuning Lake Festival and reminded people of Bakery on the Square’s Honeycomb campaign.
From there, Venie Hinson noted that she will be sending out information on what they need for Back to School Bash soon.
Additionally, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education Billie Williams thanked those that voted for the Happy Hearts levy, which passed; Laurie Magyar from UH announced a UH Health and Safety Fair coming up possibly on July 27; followed by an announcement of upcoming events at Andover Public Library through Director Nancy Logan which include author Timothy Carroll on Thursday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m., along with their big summer reading opening event on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will include song, dance, drumming, exhibits and storytelling.
Logan also noted that Andover Public Library now has a newsletter if anyone wishes to receive it via email.
PACOC’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, at 8 a.m. at the meeting room of Andover Public Library.

Pictured: Several members of Pymatuning Area Chamber of Commerce at the start of their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8, within the meeting room of Andover Public Library.