Fostering isn’t for everyone, but helping out can be.

That was part of the message the executive director of Lions Meadows of Hope gave to members of the Kingfisher civic group recently.

“Not everyone can be a foster parent - or should be,” said Bryan Larison. “But everyone can support foster care.”

Meadows of Hope is a certified foster agency that works with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to place foster children in homes in and around Payne County.

It also has a 160-acre foster care campus south of Perkins with five homes built specifically to provide homes for families of four or more foster children.

It was formerly called the Oklahoma Lions Boys Ranch after, in 1971, Oklahoma Lions moved to become its governing body.

Now, all board members of Meadows of Hope must be a Lions Club member in good standing with their respective club.

Larison has been with Meadows of Hope for nearly two decades.

“Where we are as an agency is largely due to the leadership of Lions through the years,” he said.

Larison added the ultimate goal of the agency is to reunify a foster child with its biological family.

In the meantime, Meadows of Hope works to keep brothers and sisters united throughout the foster process.

It recruits, trains, certifies and supports foster parents with which it works.

It’s not always an easy process, he said.

“Foster care is hard,” Larison said. “The trauma our children have gone through is significant. A safe place to stay, a good meal and a loving family aren’t going to just magically fix that.

“People who step into the space of foster care and choose to adopt are special people.”

The non-profit agency receives a large part of its funding from a foundation through the estate of former Lion Paul Milburn.

However, the funds have to be matched, which means annual fundraising for the agency.

To donate, or if interested in becoming a foster parent, Larison said more information can be found on the agency’s website (lionsmoh.org).