Life.Church Norman Volunteer Becky Flesher checked her email one evening before going to bed when she received a CarePortal request that stood out to her.
A young single father – who was previously in foster care and aged out of the system – needed help paying his $800 rent. He fell behind after facing two major challenges: switching jobs and vehicle repairs.
“This father is doing incredibly well – acting as a single father, working full-time and doing his best for his children,” the CarePortal request stated. “He is truly just in need of a little help to stay on track. He has very few supports he can lean on in times like this and although he has overcome so much, this support would provide the stability and safety he needs for his family.”
A Norman non-profit organization, Fostering Futures, had funded half the request, but help was needed funding the remaining half. The apartment complex gave this father of two children five days to get the funds.
Flesher knew she wanted to help and reached out to her friends on Facebook to see if anyone else would be interested in helping. Within nine hours, $300 was raised, she said.
The remaining $100 was filled by Paradigm Church in Norman.
Paradigm Church responder Mark Johnson said his family has a heart for those with kids facing homelessness and hunger.
“We feel happy and blessed that we can bless others,” he said.
Johnson said when someone is reaching out for help – whether physically or spiritually – every little bit helps.
“One person can’t do it all,” he said.
In the past 12 months, Life.Church Norman fulfilled the needs of nine requests and served 17 children and Paradigm Church Norman fulfilled the needs of 22 requests and served 36 children, according to CarePortal.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” Fostering Futures Director Sue Durrett said. “And what I’ve seen in Cleveland County, we have very, very strong communities – a very strong faith-based community that takes that on.”
Fostering Future’s goal is to meet the needs of children in the child welfare system, whether that’s relating to safety, stability or connections to family and their community.
Durrett said Fostering Futures will partner with 111Project churches to fill larger needs so “it doesn’t break anybody’s bank.”
With the support through CarePortal and 111Project, Durrett said they’re able to be able to give that relief that a family needs so they can move forward.
“It’s really going to make a stronger community – if we can strengthen the individuals, we can strengthen the community,” she said.
