Special thanks to James Hall, Defensive End for the St. Louis Rams

Birthday Buddies Needed for Children in Foster Care with October Birthdays! 

We love to give something special to each child at our quarterly events.  If you have new or very gently-used items that a child or teen would enjoy, please contact Shelley at 314.367.8373.

Have Fun with Kids at NASCAR Speedpark!

Our Foster Friends volunteers are hosting

a Parents' Night Out for our families in October at NASCAR Speedpark.  Sound like fun?  Become a Foster Friend and join us!  Please click here to learn more.

 A Letter Sent to the United Way... 

This letter was sent to a United Way Contest and won the author the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a recent St. Louis Cardinals game!  It shows the great ways the community joins forces to help families in need.

This is where our United Way story begins...  

The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition was there from the start.  With training, newsletters, special events, Little Wishes Christmas gift program, and the KidStore, they were a wealth of help, support, and information.  We utilize the KidStore to supplement our children's clothing needs, as well as donate items as our children grow.  We have recently been introduced to their [RE]FRESH store and look forward to shopping there when our children are older.  Their new counseling services and education advocates are services we anticipate using and will allow us to get our children the psychological help they may need.

Another organization, Nurses for Newborns, is amazing.  Our youngest child was born drug addicted.  She was six weeks premature.  We started to foster her straight from the NICU.  She had been weaned off the drugs in her blood stream from her birth mother but still needed very special care and handling.  She could only eat one ounce at a time, slept poorly, and couldn't tolerate the normal soothing techniques for most newborns.  Nurse Chris from Nurses for Newborns was sent to help.  She came to our house twice weekly for the first few months, then once a week, and then once monthly for a year.  Her advice, skills, knowledge, and support were invaluable.  With her guidance, my wife nursed our precious four pound baby girl until she was symptom free, developmentally on target, and completely out of danger. AMAZING!   

Today, my interracial forever family consists of me, my wonderful wife, our two-year-old baby girl, and our four adopted, beautiful, healthy, happy, children - three boys ages 8, 7, and 3.

It is often said it takes a village to raise a child.  The United Way, Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, and Nurses for Newborns were, and still are, a huge part of our village, and community.  Thanks to you it works... The United Way!  

To volunteer, donate, or become involved with the United way, please click here. 

Lake Forest Confections and Pretzel Boys - Local Businesses with Big Hearts 

[RE]FRESH This Week