Why

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress” (James 1:27). We consider kids in foster care to be some of America’s most vulnerable citizens. We believe God calls us as a church and a community to care for and look after each one of them.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11) Though children in foster care come from hard places, we refuse to believe that they are destined for a life of chaos and pain. Our goal is to show them the love of Jesus and help them to see a hope in their current circumstances and for their future.

How

Fostering Hope and The Caring Closet both launched as separate ministries in early 2012, unbeknownst to one another. Fostering Hope was started by a group of people including Sarah and Jeff Burch who felt called to get involved and make a difference in the life of children in foster care in our community. The Caring Closet was started by Joanna and Zach Holden, who as foster parents, knew there was a great need for practical resources to be available to kids as they came into care (e.g. clothing, toiletries, baby items, etc). The two ministries merged later that year with the goal of becoming a Christ-centered, non-profit organization that would serve as an avenue to bring our community together to support local kids in foster care. Fostering Hope received its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status in February of 2015 and has grown steadily since that time.

What

Fostering Hope exists to support and serve our local foster care community. We currently have a variety of programs that are in place to support, encourage and provide resources to children in care, foster families, and agency workers. We aim to bring the community together and partner with local churches, businesses, and organizations with the idea that we can do more together than apart.