Agency hopes to help children who arrived alone at Mexican border

CHARLOTTE — A program will place children in Charlotte who have arrived alone at the Mexican border, separated from their families.

“We have a heart for children at this agency,” said Terri Bowles, with Bethany Christian Services.

Bowles’ agency is preparing to bring up to 26 children at a time to live with foster families in charlotte until they can be reunited with their families.

The program is in other states, but it’s the first time it will be in Charlotte.

“We want to get them into loving, safe families as we figure out where their permanent families are in the United States,” Bowles said.

She said that most of the children will stay with their foster families in Charlotte for a month-and-a-half to two months.

Bowles says the program isn’t about politics but about helping children.

“I’m sure there are people who’ll try to politicize this in some way,” Bowles said. “But that’s not what we’re about. We’re just about loving children that need help, who need to know that they’re special and cared for, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The program currently has seven families signed up to host children.

Organizers need 50 families before children start to arrive in Charlotte late next month.