LAND O’LAKES – For the past three years a local non-profit in Land O’Lakes has been helping thousands of children in foster care get clothes, toys, and basic necessities.
Now Fostering Change Foster Closet is ready to expand and will be applying for a $20,000 grant from Pasco County.
We caught up with founder George Agovino.
Less than a week after knee replacement surgery, he was back to work.
He and the team work with foster agencies to help get children ages infant to 18 anything they need.
“Nobody wants to have a child running around with duct tape on their shoes and if they come into care or they need it, right away they call us,” said Agovino.
He has worked his life in law enforcement and now retired he sees the other side.
“Two in the morning, I’m the one standing by the mailbox, waiting for a child to pull up crying,” he said.
The goal is to help families stay together and to intervene before children get taken from the home.
“The system is broken, how can we fix it,” said Agovino.
His answer takes him outside and behind the closet.
“This is going to be our pathway to change,” said Agovino as we walked outside down the sidewalk and around back.
If the non-profit can get a $20,000 grant from Pasco County, it will go a long way.
An old building behind the facility would be transformed into a learning center surrounded by a garden.
There will also be a massive playground for kids to enjoy.
“If a family needs to go to work, and they can’t afford the $200 a week, that’s what this learning center is going to be about,” he said.
