Foster the Family Grand Rapids

08/30/2025

As August comes to an end, we have a few updates for you.

When the decision to close our Grand Rapids office was made, we began seeking out collaborators who could continue offering two family-favorite programs, Support Group and Kids’ Day Out. While we have not yet found a partner to continue either program, our hope is still to do so.

What does this mean? It means that, for now, we are stepping away from these programs in Grand Rapids with deep gratitude for all who have joined us on this journey. It also means that, if at any point a church or organization would like to offer these resources to the Grand Rapids community, we would be more than happy to share our model and experience so they can pick up exactly where we left off!

So as this chapter closes, we want to leave you with this:
From all of us at Foster the Family, thank you. Thank you for the love and generosity you’ve poured out for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in Grand Rapids. Thank you to the families who have joined us for all of the fun, and who have invited us to be a part of the hard. Walking alongside you has been a precious experience, and we’ve loved every minute of it.

We are deeply grateful for the many incredible organizations already serving families here, and we are confident that their strong network of care will continue to meet needs. We’ve created a list of many of these organizations, and we encourage you to visit this link www.fosterthefamily.org/resources/grand-rapids to learn more about the services and programs they offer.

To our Grand Rapids community... thank you for it all. 💛

With love,
Foster the Family

08/27/2025

This month, because of incredible donors and partners who gave their time and resources, we were able to provide tangible support for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in the following ways:

Aiding in family preservation, teen moms at Grace's Table were gifted 12 large cases of diapers and a new changing table.

Families served through D.A. Blodgett - St. John's now have further access to essentials thanks to 4 large moving boxes of diapers placed in their newly opened Care Closet.

Over 500 children in our community received back-to-school support through Closet of Hope - Wyoming, MI annual drive. Gifts included:
• 167 backpacks
• 23 diaper bags
• 19 lunch boxes
• 19 water bottles
• 21 duffle bags
• 20 art smocks
• Additional school supplies

Families coming to Closet of Hope for support will have access to over 34 totes filled with everything from clothing to books and hygiene items, along with shelving units, commercial-grade clothing racks, and a rolling cart to continue serving families across Michigan.

Families impacted through West Michigan Partnership for Children will benefit from a refreshed meeting space, furnished with 5 office chairs and a storage cabinet, supporting their collaboration with local agencies to create better futures for families and children.

AYA Youth Collective was handed 12 totes full of hygiene essentials, sanitary products, clothing, and more to support youth facing homelessness, many of whom aged out of foster care.

Two shopping days were hosted where 33 families and 111 children were provided clothing, hygiene essentials, books and toys, towels, diapers, and even Christmas decor.

Caregivers were also gifted our remaining apparel like t-shirts and hats, as well as copies of Jamie Finn’s encouraging books, and a foster/adoptive family in our network was gifted the office freezer.

The impact was real. The community connections were rich.

Our hearts are full of gratitude. 💛

08/14/2025

We have a variety of Foster the Family apparel available to our foster/adopt/kinship community for free! Please claim in the comments and pickup any weekday 9-3pm at the upper level, Door C at Thornapple Covenant Church, 6595 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

08/06/2025

We have a large standup freezer to gift to a foster/adopt/kinship family. If your family would be interested in it, please comment below ⬇️ and we will draw a name Friday. You would need to pickup and transport it.

08/05/2025

08/05/2025

Our doors are open and we are waiting to serve your families tonight until 9pm.

08/02/2025

We'd love to invite you & our community of foster, adoptive, and kinship families to next week's Shopping Days!

Join us at Thornapple Covenant Church, 6595 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids MI 49546 on Tuesday or Thursday! All items are free as they were generously donated just for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

Know Before You Go:
✨Please enter through Door E on the lower level (where the church vans are parked!) and our volunteers will be there to greet you!

✨Please bring bags, boxes, or a wagon to carry your items!

✨Our space is small, so plan accordingly with your crew!

✨Children are welcome, but they must stay with an adult while at the event!

We can't wait to see you there!

08/01/2025

With hearts full of love and gratitude, we want to share an important update with you. 💛

We have had the amazing opportunity to launch offices in multiple states, and in every single state and at every single office, children and families have felt the impact and support of Foster the Family's mission. The work has always been made possible because of you — whether you gave generously, showed up to serve, or cared for vulnerable children yourself. You have been at the heart of every story of impact.

Over the past 3 years, we've served the state of Michigan through our office. It has been a place of hope, help, and community. And while we are confident that hope, help, and community will continue in the Grand Rapids area, we want to share that our Grand Rapids office will be closing at the end of August.

We’ve seen lives changed, families supported, and love poured out over and over again. And we have you to thank. And while this chapter is coming to a close, our commitment to vulnerable children and the families welcoming them remains.

Our founder, Jamie Finn, wrote you a letter where she shares what this transition means, where we go from here, and why we’re more hopeful than ever.

To our Grand Rapids community: we love you, we’re grateful for you, and we’re cheering on what comes next. 🫶

Read the full letter here: https://www.fosterthefamily.org/gr-announcement

07/29/2025

Last call before we close registration! Don’t miss this free event!! 💛📚🚌

Register here: http://tiny.cc/cohbacktoschool

07/26/2025

Have you heard about In The Image's Shoe Program?

Available for Kent County children entering Kindergarten-5th grade!

Find out all the info and register here: https://www.intheimage.org/shoes-register

07/17/2025

✨SUPPORT GROUP UPDATE✨

Our support group will not be meeting this month. We know how much the group means to you, and we are so sorry for the last minute change!

We are working hard on how to ensure this doesn't happen again, and we will give you an update soon for when we will reschedule in August.

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions!

See you in August!

07/17/2025

Sharing on behalf of Bethany Christian Services - These events are open to ALL KENT COUNTY formal kinship care families.

Splash Pad Meet Ups- July 17 and August 13, 11am-1pm
Meet up at two different area splash pads for some fun in the sun! The kids can play while you connect with other relative caregivers around the community. BCS will provide lemonade; you can bring a picnic lunch! See the attached flyer for locations. Register using QR code on flyer or here: https://forms.gle/3Lu9ybHmm49keDDQ6