Wendy's To Offer Free Meals To Rockland Foster, Adoptive Families

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — For the 12th year in a row, staff from the Rockland County Department of Social Services’ Children’s Services Unit are joining with local Wendy's locations in Nanuet and West Haverstraw to celebrate National Adoption Month and to increase awareness of the need for foster families.

Over those past 12 years, 80 children in Rockland County have been adopted by their foster families, said Joan Silvestri, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services. "Foster home recruitment is a key element to the success of adoptions in our diverse county.

“We are grateful to Wendy’s for partnering with us for the 12th 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,” she said.

On Wednesday, Wendy’s restaurants in Nanuet and West Haverstraw will provide free meals to foster and adoptive families in Rockland County in honor of founder Dave Thomas.

Thomas, who died in 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.

The two locations are operated by Wenesco Restaurants. Owners Kevin Woodside and Phillip Anastos are carrying on Dave Thomas’ legacy and Rockland County Department of Social Services is partnering with them, Silvestri said.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a foster parent, please stop by Wendy’s in Nanuet or West Haverstraw between 4 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent can visit the DSS website, too.

“Fostering a child is a truly special opportunity to change a young person’s life,” said County Executive Ed Day. “I urge anyone who has ever thought of being a foster parent to get more information about what would be a truly special gift for both you and the child.”

Foster Care provides children and teens age newborn to 21 with temporary, safe, loving homes, when their own families are unable to care for them.

Rockland provides support to foster parents:

• A monthly stipend for food, clothing and board, based on the child's or teen's age and need for special services.
• Medicaid Managed Care insurance for the child or teen.
• Payment for daycare for working Foster Parents.
• Support from individual caseworker and a team of service providers.
• Ongoing Trauma Informed training to learn about caring for children and teens in Foster Care.
• Support from experienced Foster Parents.