Jaclyn and Elton's Calling to Foster

Jaclyn and her husband, Elton, have always felt a calling to help others – especially kids. They have five biological daughters and also lead the children’s ministry at their church.  

Their calling became stronger after their fourth daughter was born. They considered becoming foster parents, but after finding out that they were expecting their fifth child, conversations around fostering were put on hold. That was until a fellow congregation member came to them asking for help.  

A woman at their church was raising her two grandsons because they were not safe at home with their parents. She was happy to help with these boys, but her age made it hard for her to keep up with all of their needs. Jacyln and Elton offered to help if she ever needed it. Years later, she took them up on that offer when one of the brothers had found a more permanent home and she felt the other boy would be better suited with Jaclyn and Elton.  

The family quickly welcomed the boy into their home. Within a short amount of time, Paxton became an irreplaceable part of their family. They all loved his competitive spirit and optimistic view on life. 

After Paxton had been in their care for about a year, Jaclyn got a call one night from another member of their church whose children were being removed from their home. They asked Jaclyn if her family would welcome them in. She talked to Elton, and within three hours, they had three more kids under their roof. This would be their first placement as officially licensed foster parents. 

Having a full house was difficult for the family. As anyone could imagine, balancing the schedules of six kids got overwhelming. A little over a year later, the three siblings were placed elsewhere, and Elton and Jaclyn took a break from bringing in new kids. They wanted to devote more time and attention to the kids they had in their care before they welcomed anyone else. This coincidentally ended up being their final two months with Paxton. He tragically passed away and the family was heartbroken. Jaclyn recalls it being one of the hardest things her family has ever gone through. 

After taking their time to grieve, they once again felt a calling to do more. Despite the pain they were going through, they knew there was a need, and they wanted to help. They opened their doors again and just months later their home was fuller than ever before.  

Five-year-old Ella was first to join their home this time. Just a few weeks after she arrived, Elton and Jaclyn saw the urgent need for teen placements and welcomed 16-year-old Jayla into their home. And then three months later, the sibling trio they originally helped came back into their care. As of today, there are seven kids in Jaclyn and Elton’s home; two biological daughters and five foster kids.  

“We hope we’re giving these kids some sense of stability,” said Jaclyn. 

These kids do indeed have the safety and stability they have always deserved. On top of that, they get to be kids again. They get to experience family vacations and extracurricular activities. They get to be part of a family who sees past their trauma and loves them as they are. 

Jaclyn says that fostering has been a huge challenge for their family. They balance a lot of schedules and different behaviors, but they see the rewards far outweigh the hardships.  

“Nothing easy is ever worth it,” said Jaclyn.  

We are so thankful for Jaclyn, Elton, and their entire family for being here for kids in our community. You are having an impact that will last for generations to come!