Jason's Safe Families placement started well, hit a few bumps and ended spectacularly, thanks to the generosity of countless families in the community.

The five-year-old had been placed with volunteers Steve and Dana Heiniger and their four children in August 2009 so that his mom could find housing and get back on her feet. Although reserved at first, Jason soon warmed up to the Heinigers. "It was a very special experience to see him laughing and rolling around on the floor with my kids," says Dana.

By Christmastime, Jason's mom had found an apartment. The catch? She had no furniture, kitchen items or home accessories. The Heinigers reached out to friends and Steve's fellow schoolteachers, and within no time Steve was driving all over town picking up new and used chairs, beds, tables, glassware, towels... you name it.

"When we started bringing all that stuff into her apartment, she didn't say much - I think maybe she didn't know how to respond," Dana says. "But when Steve gave her a $200 Meijer gift card from the junior high basketball team, she was blown away. It was really overwhelming to see the community come together like that for this family."