What a generous little girl! Last year, she and her family helped at Friends of Foster Kids and it truly touched her heart. It made such an impression on her that she took the money she received for her birthday and bought toys for the foster kids! A special thank you to our special angels for your donations.
FOFK provides Christmas for foster children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect and placed in temporary housing or shelters. FOFK fulfills each child’s wish list with new items wrapped with care and then works to ensure timely delivery for Christmas.
Being our inaugural Newsletter, I felt it only fitting that we begin by expressing our sincere “Gratitude” for your continued
support. We recognize that you, our donors, are the life blood of this organization. It is through your caring, commitment and
generosity that ensures the success of this program. You truly are Angels!
Looking back through the years I’ve watched this organization grow. Helping us to spread the word, you are making smiles happen and bringing joy into the lives of our local foster children. Witnessing the love that passes from our donors, showing a child they do matter, speaks volumes. Together we are able to impact the lives of so many of our local foster children.
Currently we are wrapping up our Hats Off to Grads Program, providing our foster children with the tools and necessities they need to set up for living independently and beginning their college life. Without the support of a family, we can always count on you to step in.
Together we are changing lives…one child at a time!
Never underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others ~ Pablo
Donations of linens and personal items help every student!
In mid-June we kicked off our college program for 30+ college students from Macomb and Oakland counties.
This college program is an annual program that runs to mid July. Then collections are sorted/organized for a one-time distribution in time for the student to leave for college in August.
Sponsoring a student entails purchasing specific items that the college student would need to start their college year, it can vary from student to student. Each student fills out a wish list stating the items they will need from graphing calculators, bedding, mini refrigerators and microwaves to personal care items, laundry and cleaning supplies to storage bins.
Angels, like you, make this important program a success!!
Download a PDF of the Friends of Foster Kids August 2016 Newsletter HERE, and email info@friendsoffosterkids.org to receive the newsletter to your email inbox.
Friends of Foster Kids marched in the Saint Clair Shores 2016 Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, 2016. Thank you to everyone who came out to support Friends of Foster Kids and spread awareness for our organization!
Thank you Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Macomb Region (WLAM-MAcomb) for hosting this wonderful event for Friends of Foster Kids on May 18, 2016! This year, the WLAM-Macomb Cocktails for a Cause beneficiary was Friends of Foster Kids (FOFK). This year’s Spring Mixer included a Pajama & Tote Bag / Duffel / Backpack Drive for the kids!
Thank you King of Kings for letting us speak at your Aprons with Attitude Brunch on May 14, 2016. We’re so thankful that these wonderful ladies will be donating pillow cases and blankets to Friends of Foster Kids.
The Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores recently collected suitcases and duffle bags for foster children. Pictured are, from left to right: Debbie DePape, president of the Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores; Sean Zaborowski, Lakeview athletic director; Lakeview Superintendent Karl Paulson; and Janice Drewek, club member.
Carrying their belongings from home to home is an unfortunate fact of life for foster children, but thanks to the Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores and Friends of Foster Kids, at least they’ll carry them in style.
As the Christmas holidays approached, club members set out to collect new and “gently used” suitcases and duffle bags so children will have a piece of luggage to call their own.
Optimist Club members and central office administrators from Lakeview Public Schools collected 20 duffle bags and 16 suitcases and turned them over to Friends of Foster Kids.
Since 2007, Friends of Foster Kids has donated over 10,000 presents each holiday season to children who are in foster care, and in need. The charity was founded by Theresa Toia, who’s daughter Jessica is a caseworker for foster children in Macomb County, Michigan. Jessica expressed concern to her mother when her entire caseload of children were not receiving a Christmas for the second year in a row due to the recession, and most had never experienced a Christmas at all. Theresa immediately wanted to find a way to help, and teamed up with her friends to start the charity and begin receiving wishlists from foster kids all over Southeast Michigan.
Solely through donations and volunteering, Friends of Foster Kids has annually helped an estimated 1,000 foster kids each holiday season. While many are infants and children, FoFK has also reached out to teenagers and young adults who have lived their life in foster care and are still struggling to find a place to live and afford everyday essentials.
Caseworkers work with the kids to carefully craft wishlists of three or four presents they’d like the most. Through the goodness of their hearts, volunteers pick up a list and seek out as many presents as they can. Then, the presents are brought to FoFK where volunteers carefully wrap each present and add extra essentials to their stockings like blankets, coats, handmade scarves and more.
Mike Schodowski, our Vice President of Sales, met Theresa earlier this year and was moved after learning about the charity and why she started it. He asked how he could help, and Shelving Inc donated 25 rivet shelving units to store donations and presents at the Friends of Foster Kids headquarters. Theresa was extremely grateful and said keeping everything organized and easy-to-find has been incredibly helpful.
If you’d like to help a foster child in need, volunteer or donate please contact Friends of Foster Kids. They accept donations year-round and try to help just as often, too. Celebrate #GivingTuesday by giving back, too!
The Utica-Shelby Township Kiwanis Club’s 25th annual Bids for Kids charity auction is Dec. 4 at the Palazzo Grande Banquet Hall, 54660 Van Dyke Avenue, Shelby Township. This year the club shares proceeds with Friends of Foster Kids and Play-Place for Autistic Children. Tickets are $65 and include hors d’oeuvres, raw bar, carving and pasta stations, salads and vegetables, dessert table, flavored coffees and premium beverages, silent and live auction, and entertainment. For further information, contact Lester Gilbert at 586-731-7450 or lestergilbert@hotmail.com.
Friends of Foster Kids 