The Good Stuff: Saved by ‘Bossier K.I.D.S.’

BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) - Nearly 400 children — that is how many local boys and girls have reportedly been helped by the local foster program, Bossier K.I.D.S.

On that list, a young 15 year old named Angela Brewster.

"I remember my biological parents were fighting, and I tried to hide by those steps because I was scared," Angela remembers, pointing toward partially cracked concrete steps on the front of a home she once lived in when she was just a toddler.

“They would drink and my bio-mom would get mad, and she would pinch and slap me,” Angela said, too young to realize just how serious her home life was becoming some ten years ago.

Once legal issues caught up with her parents, Angela was removed from the home.

Angela Brewster entered into foster care by age 4, and was adopted by age 7 — Angela Brewster entered into foster care by age 4, and was adopted by age 7(Ben Brewster)

Her first stop, a place that must have seemed like a world away.

“I’ve got a lot of memories standing out here,” Angela said, smiling in the cul-de-sac in front of the three homes owned by Bossier K.I.D.S.

Those homes are located in north Bossier City, just blocks off Airline Drive. The homes were built in 1984, each with 5 bedrooms and capable of serving a total of 18 foster children in the three homes.

"All three of these homes were built by donations from the good people here in the Bossier community," explains Bossier K.I.D.S. board member Ben Brewster.

As Ben sees it, Bossier K.I.D.S. uses a unique approach to foster care. Rather than hunt for space with a foster parent for children like Angela, Bossier K.I.D.S. simply created their own space by building those three homes and finding qualified foster parents to live in them, rent free.

“They can experience the joys of family, sitting at the dinner table together, with a cul-de-sac that is safe to go out on the street,” Ben said.

Living in one of those Bossier K.I.D.S. homes was just step one in Angela's decade-long transition to a safer and more stable life.

15-year-old Angela Brewster is now a freshman in Airline High School — 15-year-old Angela Brewster is now a freshman in Airline High School(Ben Brewster)

“Little three-year-old Angela never knew she’d have a family one day that really loved her and bring her to God,” Angela said, thinking back to just how far she’s come.

“In church one day, I heard someone loved me and cared about me, no matter what I did,” Angela said, one of the first times she says she was exposed to unconditional love.

Along with her foster parents, Angela had begun attending Airline Drive Church of Christ, led by Pastor Ben Brewster.

7-year-old Angela Brewster in court, just minutes after being adopted by the Brewsters — 7-year-old Angela Brewster in court, just minutes after being adopted by the Brewsters(Ben Brewster)

“We didn’t see foster care or adoption as an option,” Ben said.

"We saw ourselves praying for Bossier K.I.D.S. and fundraising for Bossier K.I.D.S."

But instead, one day along with his wife, Ben took a huge leap of faith, adopting then 7-year-old Angela.

"We said, there is no way in this world we are letting that girl go," adds Ben.

“They opened their house and welcomed me in. It’s so moving for a little kid,” Angela said.

Ben, who is now a father of three, says he would never want it any other way.

“It’s hard to imagine a time when Angela wasn’t with our family.”

On any given day, more than 400,000 children in foster care, so the need for qualified foster parents is never-ending. For more information about foster care and Bossier K.I.D.S., log onto to bossierkidsinc.org.

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