The Village of RVA

05/27/2022

I want to say thank you to everyone that helped us with this effort. This was a journey of saying 'yes' to helping even when we didn't know what would come next. A journey of faith. We are sad to share for this phase of life we are going to take down this group due to circumstances out of our control.

We will continue to pray about how we can serve vulnerable families in our community & if God wants this group to form again down the line, we will be here for it.

It's easy to feel like this means we failed but from the start we decided to count every met need and encouraged family as a win. We had a lot of wins these past few months!

In the end we pray that the people on the front lines of this work would be encouraged, would serve well, and that God would be seen even in the darkest parts of our community.

Follow our family to see what God does next.

05/26/2022

Interested in learning more about the Foster Care Crisis. Here is a link to a great resource.

https://www.aecf.org/blog/child-welfare-and-foster-care-statistics

05/25/2022

This past few months God has revealed to us more about the kinds of needs that exist in our community as it pertains to the Foster Care system. We feel God has miraculously made a way for this community to be formed. Now it is just a new idea but we hope to one day something that grows up into a force for good in our community. BUT we also have come up against many closed doors.

Pray with us that God will show us what the next right step is. We are asking if we are to put a pause on growing this community or if he has a new path for us.

Last night I attended a Woman's Bible Study at our church and the speaker shared that when we face closed doors that means we need to look to God because he is the door. We are praying God will be our door, show us his ways, and show us the best way to encourage our community. There is so much work to be done!

We are proud of what we have done together these past months.

Here are just a few of the needs we have met over the past 2 months:

- Provided bedding, a kit, and $100 in gift cards to a teen and her elderly relatives that were willing to take her in so she would not be in the foster care system
- Brought a kit, clothing, $200 in gift cards for a pregnant teen that was sleeping at the Richmond City DSS office buildings
- Got bedding, air mattresses, gift cards, and a kit to a diabetic teen sleeping at Richmond City DSS alongside
- Provided a kit for a foster family who welcomed back a Dino loving two year old that was home
- Delivered a kit and other baby essentials to a couple that welcomed a newborn baby boy into their home with no baby supplies on hand
- Provided a kit with baby essentials for an vulnerable expectant Mom that English is her second language

AND MORE!

We feel God's hand in this work. We know every met need allows us to connect, encourage, and cheer on those who are doing the frontline work of caring for vulnerable children in our communities. This is just one tiny piece in so much work that can and is being done to love on those who are in crisis in our community. Kits & supplies aren't everything but they are a place to start.

We don't know what comes next but we are asking that you help us pray that we hear God's voice about what he has next for us & this growing group.

Thank you for your support, prayers, and stepping up to hear & respond to needs in our community!

Brent & Amanda
Founders of The Village of RVA

05/22/2022

This work is sharing encouragement one family & child at a time. This week dropping off a kit to a new foster mom connected us with 2 other families that a group in their area was able to provide for. There is so much love to be shared in the work to support vulnerable families & children. We can only start to impact change when we all are willing to work together. ♥️

05/19/2022

Received this text today from a family that got a kit for a newborn that joined their home this week:

"From the bottom of our hearts we are so very grateful 💟"

These items are how we encourage families that are in a place of great change. Feeling seen by your community goes a long way.

05/19/2022

Best quote from literally the best social worker in the world....I just get so attached to the families I serve, I am sad when they move on....

It dawned on me this is why she is so amazing at her job...she is all in! Her love for our boy & family has been a tremendous gift to us this past year and a half.

And that is what foster care is supposed to be all about, a team of people willingly offering support, care, advocacy, relationship, parenting, family, love, and advice to a child & family in crisis.

The job is modeling healthy attachment as a way to combat the devastating effects of trauma and neglect. The point is deep, lasting attachment. Oftentimes this applies to both the children in care as well as their birth families as they frequently are trauma survivors.

I think when people say to foster parents and others involved in this work that they couldn't do it because they'd get too attached what they mean is I see the cost of what you are willingly doing is high. It's loving beyond what is reasonable, when done right.

I think this phrase gets under the skin of most foster parents because it implies to us that we are somehow not as attached as they would be so that's why we can do this work. Truth is we are just willing to grieve for the sake of the least of these...and sometimes it's really hard.

So next time rather than saying I'd get too attached...go with 'wow I am so proud of how you have put your heart on the line for this work.' Or something like that. ❤️

05/18/2022

💙 This is our 2nd kit we packed today for another baby boy that entered care this week. So thankful for the chance to love on them and their caretakers with these tangible items. Praying God's hand to be on their lives.

05/18/2022

✨Got a kit ready for a precious newborn boy that entered care this week. His foster family welcomed this little guy with no baby supplies on hand, so we are so happy to be able to gift them some items to help them ready their home for this little one.

✨We are praying for this beautiful boy's bio family, his well being, that he has an amazing team working to give him a bright future, for these foster parents....I know it may seem "easier" to accept a baby but I know first hand that the decision to take on many sleepless nights with no work leave, put your heart on the line, give up your time and money, and more for an infant is a huge sacrifice.

🙏 God may you give this fearfully and wonderfully made child a bright hope filled future.

❤️If you'd like to send this foster family a gift card too, you can buy one for them on our Amazon wish list.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3EEKOL3GF24J2?ref_=wl_share

05/13/2022

Please share, let's find a home for this family!

Housing need: We have been contacted by a local Department of Social Services about a housing need here in Richmond for a mom with four young children. Emergency housing would be helpful, and more stable opportunities desired. Please contact me on 804.781.4657. Thank you.

05/10/2022

Thank you guys so much for responding to need requests. Today we were able to deliver a kit, air mattresses, pillows, waterproof sheets, blankets, sheets, lots of gift cards to cover food and other essentials for this special teen that deserves the support of her community. Thank you for being an amazing partner and making sure this need was abundantly met. So thankful to be a part of a community that is willing to step outside their comfort zone to show love to those in tough places. 💗

05/09/2022

Sneak peak into an essentials kit. Still looking for more giftcards to include with this delivery. Checkout our Amazon wishlist ♥️

05/09/2022

Hey friends, we still need some help getting gift cards to supply food & essentials for a youth that is sleeping at the Richmond DSS building. This youth is diabetic so having access to food is very important. While at the building food looks like a lot of takeout and microwavable items.

If there's any interest in sending along homemade goods feel free to message me. I'll be happy to deliver along with the other items this Tuesday. Please share so we can meet this need. Thank you!

Please, comment on the post if you grab a gift card. That way I know what we still need. Thank you so much!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3EEKOL3GF24J2/?ref_=lol_ov_le