CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—For half a century, the state foster care review board has been advocating for foster children. Earlier this summer, state officials, including Gov. Henry McMaster, celebrated the board’s 50th anniversary. One person to celebrate for her lifelong mission to help others is Barbara Acobe.
“I wanted to give back because that’s how I was raised,” Barbara said.
Barbara was born and raised in Charleston, attending Old Rivers High School, and, after coming home from college, worked at Charleston Water System for nearly 41 years. Helping others is what Barbara does.
“That’s what God would want us to do for people that we come in contact with those who are less fortunate is to help them in any way that we can,” Barbara, the state Foster Care Review Board chair said.
For Barbara, helping others goes well beyond a 9-to-5 job. She made it her life mission to help children and foster children. She’s been on the foster care review board for the past 28 years.
“I’ve done it in bold, in making sure that there’s a difference in children’s lives,” Barbara said. “I feel that children are the most important people in our lives at this point because they are the beginning of society which we all have to be prepared for.”