IVY: Invest in Youth

NORWALK — IVY is a non-profit supporting the youth and caregivers within foster care, adoption and kinship care. Jeff and Julie Westcott, along with Krzystof and Jess Jurczuk, have devoted much of their lives to fostering children and helping in their communities. "My husband and I have done foster care for 16 years," Julie said. "We started in Illinois then moved back here and got our license here in Ohio." Over the years, the Westcotts have opened their home to about 40 children. As the children passed through, they found areas in which their needs were lacking support. "We've had sibling groups of three to five children at once, and a lot of times they transfer so fast they don't have the time to take anything with them," Julie said. Due to this, they began stocking up on needs in their own basement and started to get calls from the Department of Job and Family Services with requests to meet needs. "We became the middle person passing back and forth," she said. After some years of discussion, IVY became a reality. A building was "miraculously available" and they could finally begin a permanent non-profit. Renovations of the building began in January of 2019, but due to limited funding the Westcotts and Jurczuks have depended on the community and volunteers to transform the space, which still needs some work. "Our community is amazing in help," Julie said. "They just want someone to tell them what they need help with." The main aspect of the non-profit is to have a "shop" to provide the children with their own belongings. The shop will feature very gently-used children's items whether it be clothing, bedding, wall art, toys, books, etc. They plan to have the shop set up similar to that of a boutique. Julie expressed that "the idea is so kids can have a shopping experience rather than dig through someone's leftovers." She says that others can also shop there. "If we can make some money in the meantime, that can filter back in." This offers the older children to shop somewhere else for their own style, and other child and caregiver needs. Some other long-term goals that depend solely on volunteers are mentoring and tutoring, financial and other classes for the older foster kids, to hold classes for those wanting to become foster parents and to host support groups for the caregivers. Currently, there is a support group they host called Coffee Shop Moms that meets every third Thursday of the month. Parenting topics, typically concerning fostering or adopting, are discussed each month. As for the "shop" opening, Julie is hopeful when she says the near future. "We want to enjoy the process. We don't want to rush and we don't want to have our volunteers stress over it." They have about 25 to 30 volunteers that help on and off, including some from the Teen Leadership Corps class at Norwalk High School. On top of volunteers and donated clothing, there was a donation of a brand new washer and dryer so the clothes can be washed as they are received. If you would like to donate your time or gently used items, you can contact Julie on the IVY Facebook page facebook.com/NorwalkIVY. "I have been overwhelmed with how generous the community has been," she said. "I'm hoping that when they (the children and caregivers) walk in the "shop" they know that this is for them."