In the middle of the night, the expected knock on the door is answered by Joanne Welch. With a bright smile, she ushers in a scared 6-year-old. Joanne never knew what condition the children would be in, but they found a warm, clean bed at her house. 

Joanne credits her own rough children for the tremendous strength and empathy it took for her to foster more than 80 young strangers, ages 6 to 13, who stayed as little as a day and as long as a year.

“I hope I have shown them consistent care, health wise, and having fun as a family in healthy ways,” Joanne said softly.

“I hope they saw a difference between what they experienced in their house and what parents should do for their kids.” 

Joanne and her husband, Harry Welch, have lived in a picture-perfect house in Hailer Heights for the last 40 years. They welcomed me into their clean, tidy, and peaceful home, offering me delicious croissants and doughnuts. As we talked, two kittens playfully bounced into the room, revealing they also foster cats and kittens.

Joanne has sparkling blue eyes and has a soft-spoken voice that belies her strength. When Harry got laid off, Joanne and her husband started a local food bank at Saint Angela’s Church. Joanne saw that Auberle was advertising for foster parents, so after background checks and lots of training, they were ready to welcome those in need into their home. She had to keep daily logs and keep track of everything. While they fostered more than 80 children, they raised three children of their own. 

They were quiet but always spoke up when it came to children’s health. Joanne kept the kids active at the library and in Girls Scouts and Boy Scouts, where the children could be themselves and flourish without the hunger for food and emotional support that she provided. 

She has always included her family and now spreads birthday cheer with Dubby’s birthday cake kits so named because her Granddaughter could not say Grandma. Joanne always made time for children and young people. Her Junior Gardening Group was looking for a service project and found that the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank had a need. 

Today, they are involved in Agape’s innumerable programs. Joanne is charged with organizing senior food boxes that can be picked up at Agape’. She and Harry volunteer to distribute food to those without transportation. 

Joanne and her husband speak with their actions far more than their words. It takes courage to commit to helping others and with every volunteer program they participate in and support, “somebody always steps up and it all seems to come together at the last minute.” That kind of faith takes courage.

The kittens that entertain us as we talk will be finding permanent homes soon.

It takes even more courage to let go, as Joanne had to with her young charges as they went back to their own homes or a safe and healthier environment.

She said, “You can turn someone's life around. I hope I have.”

–Anna Lisa Haughwout