Hello Community Supporters! We are holding our annual Kinship/Foster Parent Appreciation Celebration in June! Kinship families are unique in that they take placement of children on an emergency basis who they have a prior relationship with in order to prevent children from being placed in the foster-care system. Showing our appreciation will ensure we can maintain these vital resources in child welfare and hopefully encourage others to help in ways they are able and advocate for children with DHS involvement. The Kinship/Foster Care Unit is hoping to be able to provide gift cards through a raffle to each family at the event in the amount of $50 for grocery stores, Walmart or Target, or other locations in town where items for the family can be purchased. Another option is to provide specific items to raffle off to the families such as fun activities for the children or gift baskets, be creative!

Single Mom in Coopersville trying to get back on her feet on her own. She does not have a vehicle and would greatly benefit from a bicycle. She is trying to get a local job that she could walk or possibly ride a bike to. She could also use the bike to access the local food pantry and clothing closet. If she needed to get to her young child's school for any reason, she could also utilize the bike. Her child does have a bike that she has tried to ride, but it is too small and will not work for her.

The mother in question, T, moved from into the household with her mother from a different state. The plan was for her to stay temporarily. The mother got arrested and will be in jail for a minimum of 3-4 months. Currently she has a 3 year old and 4 month old in the home who are currently being watched by the grandmother. The grandmother does not make a lot of money and is having difficulty providing for the child. Currently the baby has no crib and is sleeping on a bed with one of the teenage daughters. The 5 month old doesn't have clothes that fit, minimal diapers, minimal wipes, and little formula. The grandmother needs provided with these items to ensure the newborn is well taken care of.

The mother delivered twins boys on 3/2/2025. The babies were born at 28 weeks early. The mother has no income and no support system. The mother stays in a treatment facility where the children can stay with her. The babies are currently intubated and on morphine, due to the mother's drug use while pregnant with them. One of the twins will be discharged next week, babies will need newborn car seat/stroller combo before being discharged. Mother has other children that are in the care of material grandmother.

There is a car seat combo on amazon for $449.00 Baby Trend sit N Stand Tandem Double Stroller w/ 2pack EZ-Lift Plus Infant Car Seat, Magnolia

We are reaching out to request assistance with groceries for a family of six who are currently facing financial hardship. The mother, who works at a warehouse, has recently experienced a significant cut in her hours, reducing the family’s already limited income. The father is currently unable to work, as the construction company he was employed with is now requiring a Social Security Number, which he does not have.

The family does not receive food stamps or other public assistance, and they are struggling to provide enough food for everyone in the household. In addition to their three children, the grandmother also lives with them. Due to her age and health, she is not able to work or contribute financially.

They are humbly asking for support with groceries to help sustain the household over the next two weeks. Any help would be deeply appreciated as they navigate this difficult period.

Family is in need of two twin sized mattresses, the bed frames and bedding have been secured.

One of our members has a washer and dryer to donate. A newly arrived refugee family with a disabled child is in great need of these donated units. We are looking for help from our church to pick up and deliver the washer and dryer. A pick up truck is needed, also volunteers to load, unload and install.

I met a young single mom, yesterday who is facing homelessness. She and her 12 year old daughter currently live in an apartment with her mother and are being evicted on Sunday evening. The grandmother has a place to go but this mom and her 12 year old do not. She is on a list to move in to housing in 4-7 days. She hopes to get a job in the Ruckersville area within walking distance of Food Lion.
GRACE can likely help her with first months rent when she gets in, but cannot help her with both first months rent and a hotel stay until the apartment becomes available. We are seeking nights at a hotel or an available room where she and her daughter can stay until getting the apartment. Please reach out if you can help with this. If different churches pay each church needs to make a different reservation which would be difficult. Current rate is around $140 a night. Let me know how many nights you could cover for her and I will start a reservation with that many nights and ask that you either send funds through GRACE or stop in the hotel and pay cash towards the reservation.

April showers bring May flowers! We’re sowing seeds of hope within the foster care community, connecting with kind and compassionate individuals to help us find safe and affordable housing for Sherry, Kaya, and Kennedy. We’re praying for a harvest soon, as they must be fully moved out of their home by the end of June. Kennedy is preparing to graduate from high school in just a few weeks and is stepping into the next chapter of adulthood. Cameron has been thriving in New York; he's already received a glowing letter of praise from a client for being so helpful! Sherry recently started a new job assisting a senior during the day, and Kaya has been a big help in organizing, packing, and preparing for the upcoming move. If you know of anyone who might have a room available for the girls or for Sherry, please reach out. As always, we are deeply grateful for your continued support each month. Please select “Fund” when donating.

Summit, we have a relationship with a foster family - they are a family that we have known through our partnership with the Dream Center in OKC. They have taken a placement of a 14-year old girl, and they need a bed and bedding for her A.S.A.P. Can you help us out so we can purchase this for her? Thanks. Nathan