When Fridley was 15, he was in trouble with the law and placed at a juvenile facility in Mount Pleasant. After a few weeks, he was placed in his first foster home.

Later he decided to call and ask his brother’s foster family if he could come live with them. Agreeing, he moved in and re-connected with his brother. Recently he asked if they would adopt him. He will find out later this month if the adoption will be granted.

Though the group has not attended many public events yet, Elder has big plans for the Ottumwa “Elevate” chapter and its events calendar is filling up quickly with requests for them to speak at different meetings.

They have even been asked to speak at a foster child conference in Washington, D.C. in May, along with the Des Moines chapter. They are currently taking donations and planning fundraising events to raise the money to go.

For more information on how you can make a donation or get involved with the group, contact Joanie Elder at (641) 799-9989 or attend a meeting on the second or fourth Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Jubilee Bible Church on Green Street.

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.