Last month I read a story about a 7-year-old boy from the Cincinnati area who was trying to sell a stuffed animal so he could buy food since he hadn’t had anything to eat in days.

It broke my heart.

A child should never be hungry. They did not ask to be born. Parents should be more responsible and less selfish. If they cannot take care of their children there are many people that would love to have a child to care for.

It seems like there are so many people that would make great parents but are unable to have one of their own. Then there are the irresponsible, uncaring people that pop them out one right after another and do not have the means, know how or caring capabilities to care for them. Sometimes circumstances arise and hardships occur in a family that make it difficult for a parent to provide properly. Ask for help. Needing help does not make you a bad parent.

I was a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer for a short while and part of the reason I stopped was because I did not and do not agree with the minimal standards of care that parents have to meet to have their children returned to them. It is not high enough!

Just because someone is the biological parent does not mean they are a mommy or daddy. More focus needs to be on the child. “Parental rights” should not take precedence over what is best for the child. A child should be able to live in a loving and caring home with a person or people that put them first and keep them safe.

CASA is a terrific organization and it has helped many children, but all parties involved have to work together for the CASA volunteer to do their “unpaid” job, which is more than people realize.

Kudos to the police officer who fed that little boy and got him help. Ninety-nine percent of our police officers are caring law enforcing people. It is too bad such a tiny percent of officers degrade such a noble profession.

I thank God that we have men and women who put themselves at risk every day to protect and serve us the people. I know I don’t say it enough, so thank you once again.

Cheryl Ferguson is a Forestville resident.