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Ohio Couple Fostered Nearly 100 Girls over 30 Years
Al and Ann Hill fostered nearly 100 girls over three decades, The Cincinnati Inquirer shares.
Their children left for college and they became empty-nesters, so for Ann and Al, it wasn’t a major decision to become foster parents. The Hills tell The Cincinnati Inquirer that caring for youth in need was “no more difficult than a trip to the grocery store.” Fostering children was natural for them. Even now, they don’t believe they did anything above and beyond.
The Hills opened their home to any young girl who needed a safe haven, providing shelter and home-cooked meals. They made sure to show up for the girls in any way they could. Ann doesn’t smile often and is strict, but soft-spoken. She was a tough foster mother, but Al tells The Cincinnati Inquirer that Ann was someone the girls could always call, and sometimes, that was all they needed.
They share that it wasn’t always a walk in the park when fostering children. Some of the girls ran away, some stole from them. However, the love and devotion they continued to give to the girls kept their household running smoothly. The Hills stopped fostering in 2020.
“We were a team. That’s how we did it.”
Ann Hill
To Al, a bus driver and manager for 37 years, fostering was simple to him.
“You know what you learn?” Al says. “There are so many people with nowhere to go.” For this lovely couple, all that matters is providing young girls with love, guidance and safety. That is enough for them.
Thank you for opening your home and hearts, Mr. and Mrs. Hill!