Dinner will honor those raising young relatives 

Dinner will honor those raising young relatives 

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Kinship Care Recognition dinner will be held Wednesday, November 17 at 6 p.m. at the Scottville Area Senior Center, 140 S. Main St.

This will be the second time the event has been held, the first in 2019. Mason County residents raising their grandchildren—or other young relatives—are invited to attend as guests of honor. Anyone raising a young relative can call 231-757-4705 to reserve a place at the table. Those attending will receive gift bags and books to take home to their kids.

Guest speakers planning to attend and honor kinship caregivers are Mason County Probate and Family Court Judge Jeff Nellis, State Senator Curt VanderWall, State Representative Jack O’Malley, and county commissioners Janet Andersen and Steve Hull. In addition to thanking area residents for making a difference in the lives of these young people, they will also offer their insights on some key judicial and legislative issues important to them and their kids.

Also highlighted will be Debbie Frisbie and her adopted daughter, Ryleigh Frisbie. Ryleigh is a high school senior and self-described “kinship kid,” who will share her personal experience growing up in a kinship family.

Debbie is a leading advocate for kinship families and adoptive parents throughout Michigan, through her leadership role with the Adoptive Family Support Network and the Michigan Kinship Care Coalition.

The event is sponsored by the Scottville Area Senior Center and its Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship Caregivers support group.

“There are at least 70 households in Mason County where grandparents and others are raising young relatives, according to census data compiled by the Area Agency on Aging,” said Bill Kerans, Scottville Senior Center director. “That’s why we started our support group.

“This event is intended to recognize and honor everyone fulfilling this vital role. We also hope it will help us reach out to and involve other kinship families who are not yet part of our group.”

“We really want kinship caregivers of all ages and relationships to contact us, and join us for this special evening in their honor,” said Debbie Frisbie. “We want to offer help and useful information to all kinship families, and encourage them to step forward and join us at the dinner on Nov. 17.”

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