May is National Foster Care Month and the Foster Care Association of DeKalb County has invited a special guest.

Doneareum S. Winston, an Anniston native and author of “Panning for Gold” will sign copies of his book Saturday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Rainsville Public Library. Winston will speak at 11 a.m.

“Winston writes with honesty about his adversities as a child and teenager growing up in foster care,” said Amy Roebuck, director of the Foster Care Association of DeKalb County. “Thankfully, he has the ability and courage to share his story. As you read his book, you will clearly see why this foster care alumnus has triumphed.”

Roebuck said each May, the association salutes those who make a difference by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers and volunteers.

“Thanks to these unsung heroes, many formerly abused or neglected children and teens will safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives or be adopted by families,” Roebuck said.

Roebuck said DeKalb County has about 100 children in foster care, which is among the 5,560 children in the system in Alabama.

“The Foster Care Association of DeKalb County serves, advocates, promotes and encourages foster placements, adoptive placements and other supportive placements, such as relative placements and kinship care,” Roebuck said.

She said the association also provides activities for children, such as an Easter egg hunt, a back to school pool party, a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and a Christmas party.

“. It provides continuing education, training, and encouragement for foster, adoptive and support parents,” Roebuck said. “It also supports our families through House of Love, a clothes closet, and money for change of season clothing, birthdays and special purchases like tuxedo rentals and prom dresses.”

Roebuck said about 70 percent of foster children in DeKalb County are able to return home to their parents, while about 25 percent go to relatives. About 5 percent of children are adopted.

“All the events and services for our children are supported entirely by charitable donations,” Roebuck said.” The Foster Care Association of DeKalb County is a non-profit organization and does not receive any funding from the Department of Human Resources, however, we work together to meet the needs of our children in foster care.

“Show your support by attending the book signing at the Rainsville Library to meet Winston and to learn how you can serve our foster children in DeKalb County.”

Roebuck said people should look no further than Winston’s writing to see the importance of foster care.

“I always felt in my heart that regardless what my mother and family had to endure, I would have rather stayed with them and endured together because that was my true home and family,” Winston said in his book, “Panning for Gold.”