Foster Hearts

FOSTER HEARTS PROVIDES PERSONAL ITEMS AND LIFE-ENHANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. PROVIDING THEM WITH BELONGING AND EXPERIENCES TO CALL THEIR OWN. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING FOSTER CHILDREN IN OUR AREA WITH BASIC ITEMS: FOOD, CLOTHES, HYGIENIC PRODUCTS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, EXTRA-CURRICULAR EXPERIENCES AND MORE.

IN JULY, WE MOVED TO A LARGER LOCATION TO OFFER MORE SELECTION AND SERVE MORE CHILDREN. WOODLAND PARK ZOO PARTNERED WITH US TO PROVIDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO OVER 300 CHILDREN. THE FOSTER HEARTS STORE HAD 954 APPOINTMENTS TO HELP CHILDREN SHOP. ALL ITEMS AT OUR FOSTER HEARTS STORE ARE FREE TO FOSTER CARE YOUTH. IN AUGUST, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP PROVIDE CLOTHING, SHOES, AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS ALONG WITH BACKPACKS AND LUNCH BOXES TO 104 FOSTER YOUTH AT THE FOSTER HEARTS STORE. THE KIDS LOVED SHOPPING FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHES, AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME HELPING AND SEEING THOSE SMILES. WE ALSO PROVIDED BACKPACKS AND LUNCH BOXES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (DCYF) SO THEY COULD GIVE TO SOCIAL WORKERS TO SHARE WITH THE KIDS ON THEIR CASELOADS. PROVIDED OVER 325 WISHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE SIMPLE WISH. PROVIDED OVER 400 SNACK PACKS TO DCYF OFFICES IN OUR AREA. THE SNACK PACKS ARE GIVEN TO KIDS WHO ARE SPENDING TIME IN THE DCYF OFFICE WAITING FOR PLACEMENT OR FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING ON VISITS TO THEIR MOMS OR DADS AND NEED A SNACK FOR THE CAR RIDE. SOME OF OUR FOSTER KIDS TRAVEL TO OTHER COUNTIES FOR FAMILY TIME VISITS, SO WE WANT TO HELP BE SURE THEY HAVE SOME HEALTHY SNACKS FOR THE TRIP IF NEEDED. PROVIDED 125 BABIES WITH HARD-TO-FIND FORMULA DURING THE FORMULA SHORTAGE. CARE KITS WERE PROVIDED TO OVER 150 CHILDREN WHO WERE ENTERING FOSTER CARE. CARE KITS COME IN DUFFEL BAGS OR BACKPACKS AND ARE PACKED WITH LOVE. THEY CONTAIN CLOTHING, HYGIENE ITEMS, A BLANKET, AND A BOOK OR STUFFED ANIMAL, AND WE TRY TO PACK THE ESSENTIALS TO GET THE CAREGIVER THROUGH A DAY OR TWO. THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS CAN BE HECTIC FOR CAREGIVERS WHEN GETTING A NEW CHILD IN YOUR HOME. FOSTER HEARTS ALSO PROVIDES CARE KITS TO THE DCYF OFFICES WHO REQUEST THEM. HOLIDAY PARTY FOR OVER 247 ATTENDEES WHO ATE DINNER, SAT WITH SANTA AND HAD PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS TAKEN. THIS IS A NIGHT FOR KIDS IN FOSTER CARE TO SEE SIBLINGS WHO MAY RESIDE IN OTHER HOMES OR HAVE A NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS FUN. EXTENDED CARE YOUTH ARE THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN FOSTER CARE FROM THE AGE OF 18-21 SO THEY CAN GET SUPPORT WHILE GOING TO COLLEGE AND WORKING A PART-TIME JOB. THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP WITH GRADUATION AND THE HOLIDAYS FOR 28 YOUTH. FOSTER HEARTS HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS AND HAS SERVED OVER 4500 CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.