111Project exists to mobilize local churches across Oklahoma so every child has family. In the words of Northeast Region 5B Regional Manager, Ryon Moore, “Delaware County is definitely catching the vision of mobilizing the local church!”
Back in April, Ryon and his team of church leaders, community champions, and responders began brainstorming proactively about how they could shower foster families with care and support for Foster Care Awareness Month in May. From their discussion, the group decided to make Spring Baskets filled with Spring/Summer items and practical supplies for these foster families. With there being 21 foster families in Delaware County, this was going to be an expensive task. But, they were determined to make it happen for these families! Thankfully, CarePortal exists and has proven time and time again to be an invaluable resource.
A request was posted on CarePortal asking the community to help fund the purchase of specific items that would go in the Spring Baskets for these 21 different foster families in Delaware County. The CarePortal request read as follows:
“Please share our gratitude in helping Delaware County foster families in support and appreciation for Foster Care Awareness Month! With your generous help, you will be providing individual items for a Delaware County Spring Basket to be distributed to our amazing foster families for all their hard work and dedication to our wonderful children in OKDHS custody. In contributing, you will share in bringing hopeful awareness, appreciation and community engagement.”
The requested items for the Spring Baskets included Oreo cookies, Uno cards, s’more supplies, ice cream sundae ingredients, plasticware, paper plates, plastic cups, chips, bubbles, lemonade mixes, laundry detergent, dish soap, laundry baskets, sand buckets, swim goggles, jump ropes, beach balls, beach towels, board games, and chalk. Remarkably, EVERY SINGLE item was met in full, 21 of each need, funded and provided to celebrate and bless these foster families. The CarePortal Request was valued at approximately $2,079.
This request was met by several individuals and churches in Delaware County, some of which include Abundant Hope, ReaLove, and ReaLife Church in Grove. Abundant Hope is a Community Champion in Delaware County, and they acted as a hub for the collection of all these items and provided the space in their facilities to put together these Spring Baskets.
The first week of May and Foster Care Awareness Month, the foster families came by Abundant Hope and picked up their Spring Basket. Every single foster family in Delaware County was blessed with a Spring Basket because the churches and responders in the community fully understood the assignment. They knew how to mobilize as the Church and took time to intentionally think through what would make these families feel seen and supported.
As Foster Care Awareness Month progresses, we want to highlight the role of CarePortal in supporting these families! CarePortal is completely free of charge and easy to use. Take this story and be inspired! There are countless ways to support and care for foster families in your community. If you, your family, or your church alone are limited in funding and want to help foster families, contact us and we can get you enrolled in CarePortal if you aren’t already and connected with other responding churches in your area! Everyone can do something!