Closet Of Hope

We began fostering over 10 years ago in Illinois. We moved here in 2012 and brought our (then) foster son with us via ICPC. He was our first foster and we had been doing it for 2 years. He was a teenager as were our two biological children. Once he moved out (he aged out), we began fostering kids from South Carolina. To date we have fostered over 50 kids raging in age from newborn premies through 18 years. One of our kids came with her own baby. We have had 2 sets of twins (infants) and a set of toddler twins. We have had single kids and sibling groups.
Everyone always tells me they could never foster because they couldn't bear saying goodbye or couldn't bear giving the children back once they became part of their families & hearts. I always tell them that it isn't the saying goodbye that is the hardest. It is answering a call and finding out that there is a child/children that need you but you are out of room. Knowing that there are kids that need a safe place to call home, someone to love them through what is the scariest/hardest part of their lives and you cannot help is the hardest part. So we have said "Yes" a lot.
My wife is a teacher and I work a normal office job. Our bank account is very small on any given day (especially after paying bills). We do not have much "extra" cash but we have never let that stop us from saying "Yes." Our typical experience is that children usually do not come with much more than 1 or 2 outfits (for kids just coming into care) that fit and rarely any toys or even a toothbrush. These are all things we provide.
Before Closet of Hope, we were simply going out and buying these things with each new child. When you get a baby that you weren't planning on getting nor prepared to have, this also includes a crib, crib mattress, sheets, lots of onesies and diapers and wipes, bottles, formula, a car seat (and if you have one parent dropping littles off at daycare and another picking up from daycare you need a car seat for each car), and so much more. When you have had teenagers for years and suddenly you have a 6 year old little boy you need age-appropriate toys as well as clothes. When you get a little girl after only having boys for a while, you need girly things. I am sure you already know how expensive kids are.
When we first heard about the Closet of Hope we were interested & hopeful. Now we are on a first name basis with the wonderful ladies who run it because we have reached out so many times for so many kids. The Closet has always come through in abundance. It is also a fantastic place for us to pay forward things that our littles outgrow or friends donate. We have had 2 brothers for almost 3 years now and we have been able to change out seasons and sizes as they have changed over the years. When we have had littles that are aging out and moving into their own places, these ladies have come through with finding things to furnish these new places.
My point is that, yes, kids are expensive. Everyone knows that. However, you do not have to be rich to change the lives of these kids. You have to be kind, patient, loving and be willing to have your heart broken (don't worry - it mends and it is worth it!). Having a place like the Closet of Hope is a HUGE bonus/help/resource for all foster parents! We are extremely grateful for the Closet and the ladies who run it!