Foster Care Ministry

FPC's Foster Care Ministry

History

About ten years ago, during our missions conference we were challenged by guest speaker Oliver Muriu to open our personal homes to those in need.  He asked how many of us had empty guest rooms on most nights and to ask God if we should do anything about that.  God immediately placed a call on a few members of our congregation to share the extra bed that the Lord provided them, and over time this evolved into our Foster Care Ministry.  This ministry now includes the involvement of both the Ipswich and Danvers Campus, as well as 30 other churches around the Northshore and eastern Massachusetts.

What is it?

The FPC Foster Care Ministry exists to support the growing culture of action around foster care and adoption in our church and the surrounding Christian community.  The need is great for safe, supportive homes to welcome in children and youth experiencing crisis and disruption.  We believe the church is being equipped to step into this need with the love of Christ.   Our goals include surrounding and encouraging the families that have been called to bring children from foster care into their homes, while also partnering in a meaningful way with the women and men working tirelessly for the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and other child advocacy agencies.  Over the past three years, we've been privileged to join with similar ministries that are growing in other churches around the North Shore and eastern Massachusetts in partnership with one another and as well as with Fostering Hope New England and The Forgotten Initiative.

How are we serving?

While we continue to support the many financial, spiritual, social and emotional needs for the families of FPC who are fostering or providing respite care, we have recently stepped up to serve as part of the Family Support Initiative.  This is an effort to allow churches to help vulnerable families around them by providing for tangible needs in difficult times.  Social workers can now refer families who are experiencing unexpected crisis under the effects of COVID-19 to local church communities who are then activated to meet those needs until sustainable systems can be put in place to carry these families through. 

So far, over thirty churches have been involved in supporting families served by six different DCF area offices - and those numbers are growing each week.  On the North Shore, we have served a number of families and FPC has contributed to meet many of those needs.  From financial contributions to donations of diapers, from formula to clothing, and from shopping to delivery, the generosity of the church in support of our neighbors has been overwhelming.  

Thank you to everyone who has already stepped up in these challenging times!

What can you do to help?

We are currently in need of: diapers, wipes, formula and gift cards. It's also likely we'll need people to shop online or in stores, deliver items or provide financial gifts. If you are willing to be part of this growing effort please sign up here. You will be contacted as needs arise for specific ways to help.

If you want to do something right away, any of these supplies can be delivered to Lynnette Lovasco's porch at 12 Hull st. in Beverly: 

• Diapers (sizes 5 and 6)

• pull-ups (all sizes)

• Wipes

• Formula- Similac Pro-Advance (blue) or Similac Sensitive (orange) are commonly used

• Grocery or Target gift cards- any denomination, any local store will help immensely!

Contact Us

Sue Mulley (rsfamily@themulleys.net)

Dawn Bryden (auntiedawn09@gmail.com)

Lynnette Lovasco (lovasco@comcast.net)

Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to get involved or if you have any questions!