Couple assists foster children

Linda Shanahan said she has always enjoyed helping foster children, and after 10 years she has finally created her own way to give back to them.

This year Shanahan, along with her husband Hugh Shanahan, established their own Bloomington-based project called Kids Do Matter, a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing care for foster children in the Bloomington area with events specifically designed for them.

Before moving to Bloomington seven years ago to retire, the couple had been working since 2003 to create the program when they lived in southeast Georgia.

After moving to Bloomington, Linda said she began working with child organizations, primarily the Boys and Girls Club, where she was provided with help and insight to continue her plans to aid foster children.

Linda said this year the organization finally got all its necessary approvals and paperwork completed in order to be fully operational.

Next month, the group will organize a Christmas holiday party designed specifically for children in foster care.

“This will give something for foster children that they can feel like is their own,” Linda said. “It’s real rewarding.”

Linda said the organization connects with the children through the Indiana Department of Child Services. Many of the children are young and come from homes with traumatic backgrounds.

She said this is why her organization aims to provide them with a happy and memorable holiday experience like everyone should have.

“We have done this in other states, but I am most impressed with the foster parents in this area,” Linda said. “It has really been a great experience talking with them. You can tell they care.”

In the last few months, Kids Do Matter has worked locally with Longhorn Steakhouse to organize dining events to raise money for next month’s event. 

Saturday was the organization’s final fundraising event — a pancake breakfast — before December. All the proceeds from the fundraisers will be used to provide holiday gifts for the children.

Longhorn Steakhouse Manager Dwight Hollinsworth said his restaurant became involved with the organization after the organization provided his single-family staff members with holiday gift bags.

“Linda came to us and talked about what she wanted to do to help the community, and we were on board,” Hollinsworth said. “It’s a great cause and organization, and we’re happy to help.”

Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.