News: President of Parent Group Admits Selling Donations on eBay
July 29th, 2005 by Laurie BarakSource: KVUE - Austin, TX
The president of [a] foster parent group said she sold donated clothing, bedding and toys for needy children on eBay and used the money to pay her bills.
Marcia Hookie, 50, of Allen, Texas, tearfully admitted that she violated state law, a written agreement with a national nonprofit distributor, and the trust of the more than 250 families in her charitable group, the Foster and Adoptive Parents of Collin County (Texas).
“My kids are going to pay for this,” she said, sobbing. “I run a group of foster parents, and they look up to everything I do. I tell them they can’t sell stuff, they can’t return it … and then I’m out there doing it.” Mrs. Hookie said she was motivated by desperation, not greed.
She initially deflected questions about one of her eBay accounts, “txmomof7,” suggesting someone had hijacked her laptop and stolen her password. She said one of her adult children, unnamed enemies from a competing foster parent group, or jealous mothers within her organization may be guilty.
“I swear to God I did not sell those things,” Mrs. Hookie said, standing in the doorway of her home, one of her four adopted children peeking around her waist. But later, when confronted with transaction records from her online account, the foster mother of 13 years dissolved in tears.
“I did it,” she said. “I don’t know why. There’s no excuse.”
Link to the complete article here.
