Rabbi, wife honored; cared for 50 kids
Those headlines contrasted with the news here, solidifying his decision in 1998 to move from Miami to Wilkes-Barre.
The hilly region seemed like a better option to raise children and later, foster children.
Kaplan and his wife, Gerri, were honored Tuesday as recipients of this year’s Mary Bevevino Community Service Award. They have cared for 50 foster children while raising their own five children.
Two of the foster children, Saraea Rose, 5, and Ashley Ariel, 12, have been adopted by the Kaplans. Saraea was adopted in 2005 and Ashley last year.
The award was given through the Luzerne Foundation, which serves all of Luzerne County. The Kaplans were honored at the community foundation’s annual meeting held at the F.M. Kirby Center.
Family environment was everything to the Kaplans, and Miami could not provide it.
“We just couldn’t raise our children there,” said Gerri Kaplan, who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but grew up in Miami. “It’s a terrible place to raise children.”
They are caring for two foster babies, a 5-month-old and a 6-month-old. They are not on the same schedule, said the foster mother.
“It’s very rewarding,” said Gerri Kaplan, as she held the 5-month-old baby boy. “When they really thrive – we see it. He was eight weeks premature and he just blossomed.”
The 5-month-old was 3 pounds when he was born; now he’s 16 pounds, she said.
“When children come and they’re underweight (and) you think in a week he gained over a pound, that’s an accomplishment.”
The Kaplans’ best example is their 5-year-old, Saraea. Gerri Kaplan said when they adopted Saraea her brain was sizzled with cocaine. She was in detox for 10 days. Doctors told them they had to plan for learning disabilities.
But, quite the opposite happened. She reads and she even began tying her shoes by age 3.
“She is smart as a whip,” Gerri Kaplan said. “I think it was giving her the love and care in the right environment.”
After 12 homes, the Kaplan family just couldn’t say no to Ashley, who was then 9. She was supposed to be an overnighter, Gerri Kaplan said. They were going to send her to another foster home.
Each year the Luzerne Foundation board nominates people in the community who do great things in the community, said Charles Barber, who is the president of the foundation.
By JEN MARCKINI jmarckini@timesleader.com
