For many parents, when their children grow up and move out, it is time to relax into retirement.
But not for DeKalb residents John and Polly Lewis, who have spent almost the last 30 years being foster parents.
“It stayed on my heart,” said Ms. Lewis of her desire to give care after her own children left home. “So many children didn’t have guidance. It dawned on me that we could be caretakers.”
The couple will be honored for their continued support as foster parents by the Georgia nonprofit Families First during its annual Dining for a Difference event Thursday at the Cobb Galleria Centre in north Atlanta.
They still remember their first foster child, Butch. But after him came many more, said Ms. Lewis.
In addition to welcoming kids into their home, Ms. Lewis took the children to all their appointments, church, school, the playground and family reunions.
“It was not easy all the time though,” said Ms. Lewis. “But through thick and thin we were determined not to give up on them. We know Jesus wanted us to hold out to the end. We tried our best to help them along.”
Tony Garrison came to live with the Lewises when he was 8 years old.
“It was a very warm and welcoming environment,” he said of their home. “When I left here, I didn’t realize not all foster children lived like this. I got everything I wanted and was treated like family. It’s made me appreciate what I had much more.”
Garrison received his bachelor’s degree from Decatur’s DeVry University in 2009. He is currently working on an executive master’s degree from DeVry’s Keller graduate school.
“He always seemed determined to make it through anything,” said Ms. Lewis.
The Lewises’ message is to encourage people to go for being foster parents.
“You shouldn’t be able to say you can’t do it,” said Ms. Lewis. “As long as you try you are helping. And the more you help others the more God helps you.”
Families First CEO Kim Anderson said the Lewises’ story is a reminder that being foster parents is not that complicated.
“The Lewises’ story says however you can meet a child and with whatever you have if it’s rooted in the ultimate gift of making a difference and love and taking a child to the next step, it doesn’t matter if you have $1,000 or $100,000,” she said.

If you go
What: 12th annual Dining for a Difference
Benefits: Families First
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta
Tickets: $200, waiting list
Information: (404) 853-2809 or visit www.familiesfirst.org.