Kits comfort meth-affected children

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

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Georgia Ackerman is a one-woman committee for kids affected by meth.

This energetic woman, owner of a Fort Collins beauty salon, was serving on a citizen participation board for the Larimer County Department of Human Services when she heard a disturbing report. Methamphetamine use was on the rise, and its victims included children.

When children are removed from a meth lab environment, they and all their belongings are contaminated with toxic chemicals. As a result, when they arrive at the DHS door, they have lost not only their parents--who are likely in jail--but also their clothing, blankets and favorite stuffed toys. "They don't have anything," Ackerman said.

The plight of these children struck a chord with the businesswoman, and she decided to do something about it. She came up with the idea of providing a bag of comfort items for the children. The county enthusiastically endorsed the project, but DHS had no extra funds to commit. Ackerman immediately put out a donation jar at her business, Georgia's Styling Salon, and began putting her tips into the jar as well.

Since then, Ackerman has been a tireless fund-raiser and shopper for her Comfort Care Kits. In the past two years, she has put together at least 75 duffel bags for young victims of drug abuse.

Each bag includes a brand new outfit, a pair of pajamas, a stuffed toy, a children's Bible, a blanket and toiletry items like a toothbrush. For youngsters under the age of 2, Ackerman includes baby supplies such as diapers. Ackerman shops sales, but the price of each bag still runs $30 to $40. The program is entirely funded by donations from Ackerman's beauty salon clients, people in her church and other community organizations.

Realities for Children, a charity that helps abused and neglected children, provides the child-sized duffel bags, and the Linus organization donates handmade blankets. Ackerman also collects coats, hats, gloves and shoes for the children, but since these don't fit in the duffel bags, they are stored at the human services office.

Ackerman noted that she could collect used clothing and toys for the meth-affected children, but she wants to do better. "I want them to feel special and new when they go to foster care," she said. "These little children have been through enough." She tags each bag for the age and sex of the child, and she changes the bags when the seasons change.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Comfort Care Kits project may send a check, payable to Larimer County DHS, to Ackerman at her home, 2513 Mathews, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Ackerman delivers the donations to the county and is then reimbursed for the kit expenses.