Foster Faith serves families raising other people’s children

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There are foster families that go through a formal process, accept children at times of great need, and they are compensated for it. Then there are the friends and family who foster in a different way. Maybe a child’s parent is incarcerated. Perhaps grandparents are raising their grandchildren for a host of reasons.

These surrogate parents need help, too. That’s where Foster Faith fits in. The nonprofit has been serving the local community since 2017, and it is always looking for ways to help those who are helping others.

“We serve any family that's raising a child who is someone else's,” said Foster Faith founder Alize White. “Not only do we serve foster and adoptive families, but we serve grandparents who have a grandchild, or aunts or uncles. We don't ask for proof that they are someone else's child. We just take their word for it. We figure if they're lying to us, that's between them and God, basically.

“We help a lot of people that don't get checks. Foster families get checks, and some adoptive families get checks every month, but grandma whose daughter's in jail or a friend who just got in a tight spot and needed somebody to watch her kids for a little while, they don't get a check.”

Foster Faith accepts donations of gently used and new clothing, shoes, hygiene items, school supplies, infant supplies, books, crafts, even toys. And the organization makes sure that every child served receives new socks and underwear.

Families engaged in this unofficial foster care may access Foster Faith’s supplies once a quarter.

“We do have a few people who do that every quarter, but a lot of our people are just people who just come once because they need to help the child who has just been placed with them,” said White. “They just need a start, just something to help them in the beginning. That that's what we do and who we help.”

White estimated that Foster Faith assists 75 to 100 families at any given time, and each family averages two to six kids.

Those in need of the help Foster Faith provides may reach them on their Facebook page or by calling 765-860-9390. Donations to the organization may be dropped off at Southside Christian Church, 201 E. Markland Ave., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.