Celebration and Virtual Events Planned for November 17th
New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day and Commissioner of Social Services Joan Silvestri announced that for the 10th year in a row staff from the Rockland County Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Children’s Services Unit will join with local Wendy’s locations in Nanuet and West Haverstraw on November 17, 2021, to celebrate National Adoption Month and to increase awareness of the need for foster families.
Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas (1932-2002) was adopted as an infant. This experience had a lifelong impact on him and as a result he spent much of his life promoting the cause of adoption. In 1992, he founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption based on his belief that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent family.
During the month of November, Wendy’s restaurants in Nanuet and West Haverstraw will provide free meals to foster and adoptive families in Rockland County in honor of Dave Thomas. The restaurants are operated by Wenesco Restaurants owners Kevin Woodside and Phillip Anastos who are carrying on Dave Thomas’ legacy in our community. With their continued support of adoption, the Department of Social Services is joining them to increase awareness of the need for foster families.
Foster home recruitment is a key element to the success of adoptions in our diverse county. Over the past 10 years, 77 children in Rockland County havebeen adopted by their foster families.
“We are grateful to Wendy’s for partnering with us for the 10th consecutive year to raise awareness of the need for caring and loving foster homes and to recognize the tireless efforts and compassion of our adoptive and foster care parents,” said Joan Silvestri, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Rockland County Foster and Adoptive families are invited to pick up their food from either the Wendy’s in Nanuet or West Haverstraw on November 17, 2021. Families will participate in a virtual support group facilitated by Trudy Kent, MSW. Mrs. Kent is a Rockland County adoptive parent, as well as a Family Support Worker at the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York. In addition, an informational session on how to become a foster parent in Rockland County will be facilitated virtually by Demetrius Travis at 5:00 PM. Interested parties should contact either ana.duran@dfa.state.ny.us or demetrius.travis@dfa.state.ny.us to confirm their attendance.
“Fostering a child is an opportunity to make a real difference in a young person’s life,” said County Executive Ed Day. “It is truly a special gift for both you and the child and I urge anyone who has ever thought of being a foster parent to reach out to us and get more information.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Foster Parent can visit our website: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/social-services/foster-care/