Foster mom, 75, raised 600 kids in 50 years and never turned one away
A FOSTER mom who raised more than 600 children in the past 50 years has said she loved all of them “like they were my own”.
Linda Herring, 75, has devoted her adult life to fostering kids from Johnson County, Iowa, never turning a child away.
Herring was known by everyone for never turning away a child, no matter their age, gender, or special needs and would regularly travel to collect them.
The story of her selfless devotion to helping vulnerable kids emerged when she was honored by the Johnson County Department of Human Services' Board of Supervisors with a resolution of appreciation for fostering more than 600 children in the community.
Johnson County's official Twitter account shared a copy of the resolution, which stated: “The Department of Human Services could call Linda in the middle of the night to take a child, and she would meet anywhere to get a child.”
According to the resolution, from the 1970s Herring mostly fostered children with “special medical needs”.
I kept doing it because I had so much love to give to these children in need
Linda Herring
Bins in her garage were filled with clothes and "stacked to the ceiling, labeled by size and gender".
Her philosophy throughout was "If no one else can love them or take care of them, I will".
Grandaughter Amber Herring told : “My grandma has always put everyone else before herself.
"She had been my hero since I was just a little girl and am so thankful I get to have her as my grandmother.
“It takes a special person to open their heart and home to children.
“It has been a lifestyle for them that not everyone can do, but their dedication to children in need has always been evident."
She added: “They simply provided them love when the kids needed it most.”
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Speaking to CNN, Linda explained her motivation: "I cried when the kids would leave my home, no matter how long they had been there. It was so hard for me to say goodbye to them.
“I always questioned, 'Why do I keep doing this?' because it was never easy to say goodbye to a child.
“But I kept doing it because I had so much love to give to these children in need.”