Gina and Ben's Home Full of Love Needs Help

My name is Michelle, mom of Gina Claytor. My daughter and her husband have willingly taken a path most couples will not. They were contacted in an emergency situation from Children Services roughly 6 months ago. Ben's sister had lost custody of her three children due to neglect and unsafe conditions. The kids were only the ages of 4, 2, and 1 year old. The officials said with no one stepping forward to help these children, their only avenue was foster care.

Gina and Ben barely make enough to get by with their own jobs, kids, and responsibilities but couldn't even imagine these unfortunate kids going into foster care services, so they stepped up to the plate and offered to take care of them. They live in a small 3 bed/1 bath home w/no basement so living space was already crowded but that didn't stop their hearts from wanting to help. Their own kids gave up rooms, and they were able to now accommodate 7 kids in a 3 bedroom home, by stacking bunk beds.

Roughly 4 months after they took the first 3 kids into their home, Children Services contacted them again as the kids mother was now pregnant with a 4th child. The Judge ruled at the hearing, since the mom didn't pass her criteria to keep her child, that the baby had to be placed outside of the mother's home. Gina and Ben, after holding the baby, decided they couldn't let that happen to her either as she would be separated from her siblings who were staying there, so graciously told Children Services they could take care of her as well.

Now, there's 8 kids in a 3 bedroom home, and Ben has been given a notice of layoff of his job! That was their only source of steady income since Gina has to be home to take care of all the kids. The benefits available for "fostering'" are not given to Ben and Gina because they took the kids in as family under kinship rather than an actual "foster child" who would have come with financial help. On top of that, having eight kids is challenging just getting them to school, activities, and everything kids need to be healthy, active children. They have to take 2 vehicles to safely get everyone anywhere they need to go, and one of those vehicles also just gave them a laundry list of things it needs to keep running.

Their situation is getting dire, all because of their loving, generous hearts. I, as their mom, am reaching out to America for help.. This is a real situation, where everyday people put kids in front of their own plans, comfort, and needs. Without Ben and Gina stepping up, these 4 children would be in Children Services Custody - instead now they are enjoying family, seeing love, and being taken care of the way they always should have been.

Let's help the Claytor Family by showing them some support!! Any amount will help as it all adds up. They were even hesitant to reach out for this assistance, but as their mom I believe in the compassion and generosity of strangers given the right situation for them to help and this is it! Thank you in advance for reading, spreading our plea for assistance, and for anything you can send to help! The Claytors' appreciate your generosity!