FIRST MENNONITE CHURCH

This family is in urgent need of a refrigerator and a deep freezer after their home was flooded due to recent rains and flash-flooding earlier this month. This family is facing a daunting recovery process with their four young children (ages 3 months to 7 years). Adding to their challenges, the mother and two of her children suffer from hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder requiring extensive medical attention and costly treatment. Because their refrigerator went out, their medications were destroyed. The health insurance company will not cover costs to replace the medications.

There is a family with four children, 3 of which are special needs, that got placed in police protective custody this week due to abuse. The children were removed and all 4 (ages 6,4,4,3) are needing beds for their placements. This is an evolving situation and other needs may arise, but the beds are the most immediate need. Thank you for any help you can provide!

A faith-based organization that takes care of youth in foster care had two freezers quit working last week. They are currently getting a lot of free frozen meals and meat from the Food Bank and are constantly needing freezer space to store food. The freezers they are looking at are around $700 each. They do have two specific freezers they are looking at so they can give you the model number or put cash toward it. They are appreciative of any help they can get as they feed up to 37 youth in foster care each day.

The paternal grandmother of the four kids has custody of them now due to their dad being incarcerated and the mother not being able to care for them. She is overwhelmed with managing the four children as well as two of her own older children live at home as well and her elderly mother. They have been struggling with lice for a long time and it seems that no matter how hard they try it never goes away due to difficulty treating all the children at the same time. There never seems to be enough time in the day and the kids don't enjoy having lice treatments. I'm hopeful that someone could take the children into a lice clinic to get professionally treated as she cannot afford it.

A kinship family recently took placement of their two young grandsons, providing them with the stability and love they desperately need. However, like many relatives who step in during times of crisis, they were not financially prepared for the sudden addition of two growing boys to their household.

At the moment, both children are sharing a single queen bed, which is not a sustainable or comfortable long-term solution. Each child needs their own bed—a space of their own to rest, grow, and feel secure. Separate beds will not only support the children's physical and emotional well-being, but also help preserve the stability of this new family arrangement.

We are seeking two twin mattresses and bed frames to meet this urgent need. Your donation will help ensure this family can remain together in a safe and supportive environment.

If you’re able to donate a new or gently used twin mattress or frame—or contribute financially toward purchasing one—we would be deeply grateful. Your support makes a real difference for children and families in need.

Please reach out if you're able to help—thank you for being part of the village that supports families in transition.

A young, homeless family has been struggling to get on their feet. The mom is pregnant, and mom and dad have a 1-year-old son too. The family is working to get resources for housing and mom has recently got a job. The family currently does not have a car seat for the child, which makes it difficult for them to get connected to the community and to resources. Please consider supporting this family with a toddler/convertible car seat!

Safe Families has been walking alongside a family who is struggling. A young, teen mom and dad have a 1.5-year-old son and another baby on the way. They are engaged parents who are working hard to provide for their child(ren). They are currently homeless and are working to get into an apartment. Mom just got a new job and dad is actively looking for and applying for jobs. The family is requesting help covering the first couple months of rent while they are getting back on their feet.

Hey CarePortal Friends, we have another family that needs our help. Mom had to move with 4 children due to Domestic Violence. Before leaving the residence she contacted Evergy to turn the electric off. The family has since relocated to a safer environment where they cannot get the lights on at their new location. This is because Evergy never turned off the electric at the old location and the new balance was forwarded to her in the amount of $1300. We are asking for help to pay this amount so that the new location can have electricity and everyone can feel safe.

SW, a 16-year-old boy, has faced a lot of instability since entering foster care in early 2021 due to unmanageable behaviors. After several temporary placements, his stepmother recently stepped forward to welcome him into her home—offering a chance at the stability he desperately needs.

To help him feel truly at home, we're hoping to provide him with a dresser. Having a designated place to keep his clothes and personal items may seem small, but it goes a long way in giving him a sense of ownership and belonging. Your gift can help make this new beginning a successful one and support this youth in building a more secure future.

Would you consider donating a dresser to help him settle in?

The Foster Care Homes and the Licensing departments with Saint Francis works with relative, NRKIN, and general care foster homes, and tend to run into needs of these items listed to remain in compliance with DCF. SFM workers like to have these items on hand to help accommodate our families and ensuring they remain in compliance so children can remain in their home. Fire extinguishers, first aid kits, fire and CO2 detectors, and medication lock boxes are of the greatest need. Thank you for your consideration.

A single mother with 4 children who are in need of bedframes for 3 of the children's beds. This family has had to overcome traumatic experiences that took place in the past. Through the help of the services offered by the Department for Children and Families this family is doing much better with the memories of the traumatic experiences these children endured. This family is in need of these bedframes which will replace the old worn-out wobblily bedframes they are now using. The mother has tried to use these older worn bedframes to avoid placing the mattresses on the floor. She does know how important it is for the children to use a bed frame to maintain proper health and hygiene.

A group home for boys in foster is in need of two nice pots and pans sets. They get hand me downs often and are very appreciative but when it comes to cookware they fall apart quickly since they are used. They will be used daily and would love to have a set that would be something that wouldn't scratch easily. This program encourages the boys to learn necessary life skills and cooking is one of those skills. They are appreciative for any help you can give. The facility has four houses full of boys in care. Two of the houses are also in need of bagless vacuums. The boys are responsible for daily chores and vacuuming is a big part of that. Theirs are old and have stopped working. Thank you!