Why We're Building Before We Launch
Every child, every time.
When a child in Palm Beach County is removed from their home, it usually happens fast. There’s little time to pack, and often there’s nothing to pack in. Many children arrive at a new home carrying everything they own in a trash bag, if they have anything at all.
About 30 children enter care this way in our county every month.
At FosterJoy, our goal is simple and big: every foster child in Palm Beach County receives a duffel bag when they enter care, and a birthday box on their birthday. Not some children. Not when supplies happen to be available. Every child, every time.
That’s why we haven’t opened family requests yet.
A promise like that can’t run on good intentions alone. If a child is removed from their home at 10 p.m., a bag has to already be waiting for them. That’s why we pack every bag ahead of time and deliver them to a local child services agency, where they’re kept on hand so caseworkers can give one to a child the moment they enter care. If a child’s birthday is next week, their box has to be ready, too. Making that promise and then running out would be one more letdown for a child who has already had too many.
So right now we’re building the foundation:
Inventory, so bags and boxes are ready the moment they’re needed.
A community of donors, so the shelves stay full month after month.
Volunteers, to shop, pack, and deliver with care.
Partnerships with local agencies, so bags get into the hands of the kids who need them.
Here’s what “every child” looks like in a year:
About 360 duffel bags, one for each child entering care.
Up to 1,810 birthday boxes, one for every child receiving services.
A $40 gift fills one duffel bag or a birthday box.
We’re building slowly on purpose, so when we open our doors, we never have to say “we’re out.”
If you’d like to be part of our mission, there are three ways to help today:
Give to stock the shelves.
Volunteer to help us shop, pack, and deliver.
Share this story with someone who cares about kids in foster care.
Before the first bag is unzipped or the first birthday is celebrated, there’s a community making it possible.
We’d love for you to be part of it.
SERVING PALM BEACH COUNTY
GET IN TOUCH
connect@gofosterjoy.org
561-440-4203
