Fostering Hope

Do you have a special idea for Fostering Hope? Many people in the community have added their skills and talents to the Fostering Hope to make the idea special to them, their family or workplace, their scout troop or school. Whether you have a special connection to teens or infants, we welcome your ideas and talents for Fostering Hope. Here are just a few ways that people in the community made Fostering Hope unique and special. There stories are told through the “thank-yous” that appeared on our website. 

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Katie S. is a 10 year old who is determined to make the world a softer, friendlier place for foster children. Her mom Diane has helped her do just that! Katie and Diane brought in Katie’s collection of over 60 stuffed animals to give to children entering foster care. As you can see, some of these fluffy friends are almost as big as Katie!

Kids Matter is grateful to Katie for her sharing spirit. We will find good homes with foster children for all of Katie’s cuddly critters!

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How do you teach children about serving others? For the Brookfield Lutheran Church, it was as simple as giving back. Brookfield Lutheran Church’s Sunday school class held a coloring and activity book drive. The class learned about what they could do to help other children. The books were donated to Children’s Court, where they will be given to children who attend court.

“Our goal was to help children in need and involve our families and children at our church in the act of serving others,” Carrie Tang said. Carrie (right in the picture) and her husband Andrew (left) presented the items to Victim Witness Coordinator Ruth Winters (center) at Children’s Court.

Going to court can be a frightening experience for children. Thanks to these donations, children will have something to take their mind off the uncertainty of waiting.

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Thank you MacDowell Kindergarteners
One by one, the children walked up to the tables that held the school supplies. They carefully looked over the items, making sure they picked out the best one. They slipped the items into the bag, holding onto one strap as the bag drooped from the weight of the donations. After filling their bag with one of each item, they walked over to the Kids Matter staff and quietly said, “Here you go.”

This was the scene in Ms. Sonya Yusef’s kindergarten class at MacDowell Montessori School, where the boys and girls had been collecting schoolsupplies and making art projects to donate to children in foster care.

Ms. Yusef worked in Africa for over then years. In class, the children learned about life in an orphanage in Africa and how that compares with foster care here. The students learned that the Fostering Hope project was inspired by some young foster children who attended MacDowell when they were in kindergarten.

These inspiring MacDowell students are already young global citizens, already making the world a bit kinder for children.

Thanks Ms. Yusef and the MacDowell team.  

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Making Milwaukee a Better Community for Youth
As the school year comes to a close, school supplies are the last thing on most students’ minds. However, Ms. Heather Gilvary-Hamad and her class at Salam Middle School realized they had an opportunity to help youth in foster care who need school supplies throughout the year as they switch placements and often switch schools throughout the year. The middle school students collected school supplies, coloring books and crayons that will become part of the fostering hope bags Kids Matter gives to children entering foster care.

The students of Salam Middle School are a great example of young people making Milwaukee a better community for youth. Thanks, Salam student leaders!

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Thank you to the South Oak Creek Power Plant for the donation of toys, books, school supplies and items of clothing for foster children! Your work powers our community and your kindness will power children’s lives.

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Thanks Girl Scout Troop #1076! At times, it only takes one suggestion to see a group take action. When Girl Scout Troop #1076 heard about foster children in need of winter clothes, they decided to turn one of their meetings into a clothing drive. They collected hats, gloves, sweatshirts and blankets, and donated them to Kids Matter so that foster children could have warm clothes this winter.

Kids Matter thanks the girls for their generous donation of clothes. One of the goals of the Girls Scouts is to try to make the world a better place. With these donations, this troop is working towards fulfilling that goal and making this winter a little warmer for Milwaukee foster children.

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Little Maggie makes a big difference: Maggie just celebrated her sixth birthday. She held a big birthday bash with her friends and family. She received gifts of folders, backpacks, toothbrushes and crayons. Grandma even made sure to bring the socks and underwear. At the end of the day, Maggie had lots of backpacks, toothbrushes, and crayons, but they weren’t for her. Maggie and her friends had a great party and donated the supplies to foster children, ensuring those kids had the supplies they need when the school bell rings. Thanks, Maggie, and Happy 6th Birthday from all of us at Kids Matter.

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Caryl gives meaning to back to school shopping: See a bargain. Buy that bargain. Donate that bargain. That has been Caryl’s philosophy when it comes to helping foster and kinship care families in Milwaukee. Caryl, who in the past has given a carload of donations for kids, has been scouring local stores for school supply. Caryl’s shopping prowess and dedication to kids helped 50 foster children make the grade this year.

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Sandra, Johnson Controls and the African American Affinity Network team up for kids: Johnson Controls, with the help of the African American Affinity Network, is on the hunt for school supplies. Johnson Controls is holding a school supply drive for foster and kinship care children. The drive will help foster care children have the school supplies when they go back to class, is headed by Sandra from Johnson Controls.

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Special Thanks to Trevor and Wyatt
It is a tradition to bring gifts to a wedding for the couple, but it is very rare that the couple donates all of the gifts to a non-profit agency! That is exactly what Trevor and Wyatt did. In honor of the foster child they are adopting, Trevor and Wyatt requested that their wedding guests bring gifts for newborn and premature babies in foster care. For weeks after the wedding, the couple was still dropping off loads of Pampers, baby blankets, boppies, swings and car-seats, not to mention gift cards and cash donations.

Many children enter foster care without any belongings or necessary care items; foster babies do not have baby showers. Trevor and Wyatt’s gift means a special welcome home for foster infants. Kids Matter Inc. is truly honored to be the recipient of such a generous donation that will make a significant impact in the lives of foster parents. Thank you, Trevor and Wyatt, for helping.

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Special Thanks to Callie
Callie, a Kettle Moraine High School senior, decided she wanted to change the world "one child at a time." What better way than letting foster children know that people in the community care about them?

Callie came up with the idea of giving foster children their very own stuffed animal puppy to hold and to love when they enter foster care. Callie created the first ever Kids Matter Puppy Drive Project. She raised money through bake sales and collected stuffed animal puppies at “dog kennels” that she placed throughout the school. The stuffed animal puppies will go to children just entering foster care, a time when they can feel quite alone. Thank you Callie and all who donated to the Kids Matter Puppy Drive Project.

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Special Thanks to Zack F
It’s not often that someone gives you $100 and tells you to go out and make an impact on the world. However, that’s what happened to Zack, a stay-at-home-Dad , who was given the challenge by an anonymous donor. Zack has been given $100/week with the goal of making the donations have as big an impact as possible. Through this project, Zack has been finding ways to help kids in need.

When the project started, Zack reached out to his friends through Facebook looking for ideas. One friend suggested Kids Matter Inc. as a way to help babies in foster care. As a Dad, Zack understands the importance of keeping babies safe. To stretch the money he was given, Zack asked his friends to donate diaper bags, and, with the help of his wife and his two young sons, stuffed 14 diaper bags with diapers, wipes, and baby books for infants in foster care.

Zack says, “I like to focus my energy on children. They bring a positivity that you don’t see in adults these days.” He is working to instill these values into his own children, and encourages others to be conscious of the needs of others. As advice to others looking to help those in need, Zack says, “Keep your eyes and ears open, and you’ll see plenty of possibilities.”

Zack has also volunteered at a soup kitchen where he, with the funding from the anonymous donor, gave out hygiene kits. He recalls how he eventually began to eat with the people he was serving after some initial apprehension and the relationships he created really impacted him. As he says, “We’re all the same—we all need to eat—so let’s share this meal together.”

Thanks, Zack, for your dedication to those in need in the community. We wish you luck as you continue your journey of helping others!