James was a six year old boy whose mother had chained him to a bed for hours at a time. When James was taken into DHS custody he was severely malnourished and was so physically and emotionally battered that he could not bond with a foster family. James’ trust in the very people who were supposed to have nurtured and loved him had been completely shattered. James was the only sibling of four who was abused by his mother. After several failed foster placements and one unsuccessful adoption attempt, James, then age 12, was placed in the home of first-time foster parents the late George Harper and his wife Rose. James had difficulty bonding even with the Harpers who gave him their unconditional love and who eventually adopted him into their family.

In 1984, the Harpers founded Citizens Caring for Children along with the support of First Presbyterian Church of Edmond. During the first year, the organization existed in the Harpers home and the following year they moved the clothing and toy room to the back room of a small shop, then to a 1,500 square foot warehouse with no air conditioning.

Today, the Citizens Caring for Children Resource Center is a 6,000 square foot facility and we have expanded to offer five programs to over 3,600 foster children annually. We are thankful to our dedicated volunteers who donate nearly 5,000 volunteer hours yearly and the many donors who faithfully support Citizens Caring for Children.

There are so many more Oklahoma children with heartbreaking stories similar to James. With YOUR help we can continue to bring a brighter FUTURE and HOPE for a better life to more foster children.