FOSTER CARE OUTREACH AND SUPPORT

“Religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress... “James 1:27

  Since 2011 Everybody’s Church has developed awareness and invited involvement concerning the foster care crisis in Michigan and throughout the United States. Currently there are over 400,000 vulnerable children in foster care throughout the United States and 10,000 in Michigan alone.

 Children and families involved in the system are often the most invisible and neglected in our society. When we support our children and youth in foster, adoptive or kinship families, we are taking a proactive approach to help people in their immediate distress.  Through our Foster Care Support, we seek to help alleviate homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, early pregnancies and generational poverty.

 Our church’s FOSTER/ADOPTIVE FAMILIES PARTNERSHIPS strives to provide spiritual, emotional and some limited financial support to members who have answered the call to foster or adopt. Special provisions are made to cover registration fees for urgent needs, educational and enrichment opportunities such as camperships, extracurricular activities, and some tuitions.

The state-wide FAITH COMMUNITIES COALITION ON FOSTER CARE is housed at FPC as well. It was founded by the Rev. Dr. Kate Thoresen who has served as general coordinator of this grass-roots network.  Donations for our kids in care can be dropped off at the Foster Care office located in the Resource Center.

Some examples of help include the following:

DONATE new or like new clothing and equipment for infants up to X-Large sizes for youth who are transitioning out of the system; Diapers, wipes ointment; Hygiene products; Like new toys, books, games, sports equipment; Financial help such as a $70/month bus pass for youth to go to school or jobs.

HELP SORT AND DELIVER donated items to foster closets

PROVIDE A MEAL for a foster or adoptive family

PROMOTE AWARENESS AND INVITE INVOLVEMENT OF FRIENDS

PRAY

For more information, schedule of events, and how YOU can help, visit fccmich.org

or contact Rev. Kate at Katethoresen@fpcbirmingham.org or text 248-835-8151.