Sergeant Disobeys A Judge & Goes Behind His Back Only To Fill The Courtroom With Outpouring Love And Gifts For Foster Kids

Dec 28, 2018 by apost team

Being in the foster care system can be difficult for children. Many foster kids have already had difficult lives and, being shuffled from home-to-home, often feel that no one really cares about them. One judge in Pennsylvania is trying to give foster kids the care and attention they need to be happy in life. Judge David Spurgeon has been serving in the family court division of the Allegheny County Court system for the past two years.

Presiding over cases that involve foster kids, Judge Spurgeon quickly came to realise that he meant more to these kids than he understood initially. Speaking with the Pittsburgh CBS station, Judge Spurgeon said that for many kids, he is the sole constant as they go from different foster parents.

Judge Spurgeon first realized this when some of his kids came to court with report cards and sports trophies. Putting some of these items on his bench like a parent would put a test with a good grade on their refrigerator, Judge Spurgeon next came up with the idea to give kids what he calls “birthday baskets.”

As Judge Spurgeon explains, his birthday baskets contain items like makeup and headphones to show the kids that there are people in the world who care for their happiness. Elaborating, Judge Spurgeon says that the foster care system provides children with everything that they need to live while his birthday baskets provide them what they need to feel special.

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Judge Spurgeon quickly came to be recognized in the area for his kindness. Upon hearing of the birthday baskets, Jessica Hetherington, Judge Spurgeon’s lifelong friend and a police sergeant, knew she wanted to help in any way possible. Despite Judge Spurgeon telling her to let him handle the birthday baskets, Sergeant Hetherington decided to start a special group on social media to donate items to the foster kids. Keeping the group a secret from Judge Spurgeon, Sergeant Hetherington was able to get people and local business to donate nearly fifty baskets.

The outpouring of generosity was so great that the kind sergeant ended up needing multiple police cars to transport all the items to the courthouse. Judge Spurgeon was grateful for all Sergeant Hetherington did, saying that the donations would give kids a sense of security. For her part, Sergeant Hetherington joked that it was the first time she ever disobeyed a judge.

What do you think of Judge Spurgeon’s birthday baskets? Are there any organisations in your area that help foster children? Send this article to everyone so that they can also inspire themselves by learning from beautiful acts of kindness like these!