My kids have clothing, and they have shoes, and book bags and toys. We are fortunate to live so close to Walmart, and have a lot of support from our (really large) families. But sometimes, your newest kid needs a mattress, or tutoring, or a diversion from being a new foster kid.
So, I have searched the internet, and found some resources. You get that kid a free bed, help them with math, take them to a concert.
All the links listed go straight to sites dedicated to giving foster children, and their resource families, needed supplies (from cloth diapers and Mamaroo swings to beds). There are even links to sites that allow foster children to have wishes granted (up to $500). This list will be updated as often as possible, so be sure to check back. And if there are other services you’ve found, please share!
Beds and mattresses
https://www.tickettodream.org/help Ticket to Dream partners with Mattress Firm to provide free twin mattresses to children in foster care. https://www.tickettodream.org/partner-directory This link also has a list of partners and services they provide for foster youth, along with contact information. You will also be able to search resources by state.
https://www.shpbeds.org/request-free-twin-bed Sleep in Heavenly Peace allows foster parents to request a free twin bed. The only downside- you must be near enough to a participating location for delivery of the bed.
https://www.ahopetodream.com/en/get-involved/nominate Ashley Furniture will also provide beds for foster children. This link goes straight to the nomination form
Carseats and baby gear
https://www.everyday-miracles.org/carseat-education/ Everyday Miracles offers free carseats to qualifying families. According to their website, if your child is on Medicaid, Blue Plus, Health Partners or UCare, your family may qualify. This link will take you straight to the application page.
https://www.safekids.org/safe-kids-coalitions-united-states “Our coalitions in the United States take action to provide proven and practical ways to keep kids safe. They host safety events, conduct workshops in everything from schools to hospitals, advocate for effective legislation, and distribute safety devises such as car seats, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, helmets, and personal floatation devises. Just as important, they also teach parents, caregivers and children how to use these important resources correctly.”
https://4momssurveys.wufoo.com/forms/sluap9q1gpcyc0/ 4Moms Care (the makers of the Mamaroo infant swing) donates products to foster families. Via this link, you may submit a request for a product for your own family, or on behalf of another deserving foster family.
Clothing and Diapers
http://www.fosterclosetinc.org/parents Foster Closet Inc. helps provide foster families with coats, strollers, and other baby gear. You will need a DHS provider I.D. to sign up.
https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/ The National Diaper Bank helps provide diapers for babies in need, along with foster families.
Wishes
https://www.onesimplewish.org/ Agencies submit wishes on behalf of children in foster care, One Simple Wish shares the wish on their site, and people contribute towards the wish. They grant wishes up to $500.
http://www.kars4kidsgrants.org/our-grantees/rise-above/ Kars 4 Kids grants wishes up to $500 for kids in foster care. Click the link, then look for the “Apply Now” button at the top right.
https://www.chosenones.org/birthday-wish.html Urban Air Adventure Park, in Southlake, Bedford, and Fort Worth, TX offer free birthday parties to kids in foster care on the last Sunday of each month. This link will take you directly to the application page
Experiences (Museums, Camps, Theme Parks)
https://rfk.org/ Royal Families Camps provides a free camp experience for children in foster care. They have locations in over 40 states, along with several international locations.
https://wowchildrensmuseum.org/become-a-member/ Wow Children’s Museum in Lafeyette, Colorado offers discounted prices for children and families on any form of government assistance, including Medicaid. This link will take you directly to the ‘become a member’ page.
https://www.oregonzoo.org/zoo-all The Oregon Zoo offers a “Zoo for All” program. Tickets to the zoo are discounted to families presenting WIC or TANF documentation, or their foster home certificate.
https://www.montshire.org/visit/admission The Montshire Museum of Science in Vermont offers discounted tickets to families on Medicaid.
https://www.bbcmkids.org/family-focus-membership/ The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Wisconsin provides free (yes, FREE) membership to foster families (along with families earning less than $40,000 annually, families receiving assistance, WIC, or families with special needs). Way to go Milwaukee!
If you are a foster family, check with your local museums. Most that I’ve researched offer discounted prices for families on Medicaid, using SNAP or WIC, or with disabilities. You can also check the NARM website, https://narmassociation.org/ which allows you to find discounted rates across the U.S.
Educational and legal resources
http://www.fostercoalition.com/foster-parent-resources A list of different resources for foster families (some state specific). There are link for grants, legal advice, etc. for foster families.
http://www.educationaltutorialservices.com/foster-care/ This site allows foster parents to fill out a referral form for free tutoring on behalf of their foster child
Miscellaneous articles and resources
https://www.fortheseventhgeneration.org/shop-at-our-help-closet/ While this is based solely in Detroit, MI, For the Seventh Generation offers excellent services to foster youth and families, so if you’re in the area, it’s worth checking this link. Resource workers are also able to request services or goods on behalf of foster families via the same link.
https://portal.ifoster.org/Default.aspx I’ll admit, I just registered for this site, so I haven’t been able to check it out yet, but they are supposed to have a lot of discounts and freebies listed for foster families. You are required to sign up, and provide your agency’s name. *Quick update- sign up. It’s completely worth it. They offer coupons, free mental health advice, discounts through AT&T, discounted laptops, theme park tickets. Excellent resource for foster families.
https://firstquarterfinance.com/discounts-free-stuff-for-foster-parents/ Here’s an excellence article with some links to state-specific foster resources. It’s worth taking a look.
https://fosteringtogether.org/resources-2/services/ list of discounts for foster families in Washington state
https://www.fresnoresourcefamilies.org/foster-family-friendly-business-cam A list of discounts for Fresno County, CA foster families
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