HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — You’ve probably heard, there’s a continuing problem with finding homes to place teens in the foster care system. Hearing that problem, one woman has taken on the matter in a truly amazing way.

“It’s my passion,” said Donna Neal, a pot of chicken noodle soup on the stove. “I really enjoy cooking.”

Donna was only cooking for the people in her home on the night of our visit. It was a whole lot less than how many she’s usually feeding.

“It’s very busy,” she smiled. “I have been working with McDonald’s for 26, 27 years.”

She’s long been the general manager for a Hendersonville McDonald’s.

“You have to want to get them in and out,” Donna said. “That’s why they call it fast food.”

For Donna, food is love. On this chicken noodle soup night at home, Donna shared she learned about an area where it seemed her love was needed. With more than 8,000 children in foster care in Tennessee, there has been a continual need for foster parents, especially for teenagers. Claire Moses of Youth Villages said placing teens is always a challenge.

Watch and read the full News Channel 5 Nashville story here.

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