My family and I have been volunteers with FCSF for over a decade. We have heard first-hand from families served while we volunteer of how much the services help the foster and relative children in their care. There have been several times we have seen caregivers moved to tears with gratitude after receiving basic care items for their displaced children. We have volunteered with multiple programs within the organization including the Grands Raising Grands Holiday Wish program and the Distribution program. The Holiday Wish is during the end of the year and has become a family tradition with our children to shop for children who otherwise would go without Christmas presents. The distribution facility is very fulfilling to visit and volunteer at, and daily tasks are varied and depend on what specific things the organization needs to accomplish in a given day. Some of these tasks we have helped with in the past have been sorting incoming donations, cleaning bicycles and outdoor toys, restocking shelves, helping caregivers find items for the children, and filling mail orders that ship to kids too far away to come in-person. They truly do care about the people they serve and it is undeniable that the funds raised goes directly to support for the displaced children. It is important to note that the organization serves children that are the least supported in Georgia (displaced kids who's caregivers are receiving nothing to base per-diem). The only caregivers that do not qualify are those that get a considerable amount of money for the displaced kids in their home. Of thousands of hours we have volunteered here, we have only seen a small handful of people who showed up unqualified demanding to be served anyway. Other than that entitled few, the remaining 99.9% of everyone we have interacted here and all of the staff we have come across has been amazing and we will continue to volunteer and support them for years into the future.
I have been a foster parent since 1996 and this organization was recommended to me by my agency as a great resource. I won’t go into the details, but I had an absolutely horrendous experience here. The woman in charge at the time of my appointment accused me of lying on my application (my agency’s Case Manager called her on the spot and tried to explain the discrepancy—it was a timing issue related to the difference in circumstances between when I filled out their paperwork and when I was scheduled to “shop”—to no avail) and was denied clothing for my two foster children and ushered out of the warehouse. It was humiliating beyond words. My detailed and respectful correspondence to the Executive Director about the fiasco was never acknowledged or answered.
I appreciate all who strive to assist foster parents, but this organization seems more intent on generating volunteers and donations for self-serving purposes than helping those foster families who are on the front lines day-in and day-out. There are a number of nonprofits who are gracious and helpful and, thankfully, I have become connected with some of those. I do not recommend Foster Care Support Foundation at all, and hope to spare anyone else the difficulty I encountered.
Ms. Rachel is not a fair person I was treated unfair working at the facility. she do care of women of color so when u donate there be advise of cover up and the fake smiles
only what can do too help her business on money profit not for kids all the things there are donated no funds are spent on kids. All the items except shoes and clothes are being sold on Ebay and Amazon no money are spent on kids.be carefull who you donate expensive items to cause some thing is not what u think!! benefit for $
Our company supports Foster Care Support through volunteerism and financial contributions. Our employees find the work extremely satisfying and we find that many of our employees want to go back over and over again. The work this organization does with such a limited staff is both impressive and inspiring.
This non profit is truly a community effort with 5000 volunteers working it annually with limited staff.
With no government funds, FCSF partners and collaborates with other organizations such as the GA Family and Children's Services, Grands raising Grands and other relative care organizations to make sure these children have everyday clothing, toys, infant care equipment and normal items our own children take for granted. FCSF needs your sponsorships and the support from the communities to serve 3000 children each year. They provide about 10 million dollars value of in-kind items on a low budget of near $500,000. They need your help to reach more children not yet receiving their help. It's a true example of changing a child's life, one child at a time.
Our church supports Rachel Ewald's Foster Care Support Foundation as one of our missions. At their call, I volunteered to help and have been more richly rewarded than I could have ever imagined. We are making a HUGE difference in the lives of these children who have had their roots pulled up. They are amazing stories of applied love and caring through this organization. This particular organization is not only non-profit, but nearly 100% volunteer. I love this charity and feel honored to be a part of such a worthwhile endeavor. " WE CAN HELP THESE CHILDREN."
I volunteered in the sorting room for all of the clothes for the children. The organizers for the day was very knowledgeable about what they wanted me and my group to do and where we could be most beneficial. I had a great time sorting and organizing the clothes for the foster children and their family.
I also got to see some of the foster family that benefit from the foundation.
This is a wonderful facility that is helping children all over the state of Georgia!
I am a single grandparent raising grandchildren, and Rachel Ewald, Executive Director Foster Care Support Foundation, has graciously extended her services to include grandparents raising grandchildren families.
The staff which consists of all volunteers are all very professional, compassionate, helpful and energetic.
The experience is very overwhelming because of the level of generosity, care, concern, and acknowledgment of our needs.
We are allowed to come 3 times per year, and it is akin to shopping in our own private department store, as everything is that well organized. Clothing and shoes are all gently used or new ( all underwear and socks) and stylish enough that my teens, and college student, always find clothing they like.
Besides clothing, the children also receive bed linen, stuffed animals, back packs, and electronics.
I am also able to choose two gifts!
The financial blessings goes without saying, but the emotional and spiritual blessings are equally important.
Terryln Fulton
this group helps so many children and it was super fun to work there. We were busy shopping for the children and sorting the clothing and making sure that the children coming here would have the very best choices. Everyone was cheerful and friendly. These kids go through so much and none of them asked to be put in this situation. What a blessing!
I went to the Foster Care Support Foundation with little to no expectations as I was unsure about what they actually did. I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed with the level of service that they provide to Foster Care families. Each and every staff member that I encountered showed genuine care for the families that they were helping, and a true passion for the work that they were doing. As we walked around on a tour and they told us about the special activities and services that they provided, the looks on their faces was genuine, and again, their passion for providing these services nearly brought me to tears. I definitely would love to continue volunteering there and helping them bring joy to so many children and families.
I was truly impressed by the organization's professionalism, the look of the facility and the awareness of the staff. The facility is organized well and proves to be a valuable asset to the foster care children in the state. Several families were making selections from the many choices available. The manner inwhich the volunteers are oriented to the faciity and given clear direction regarding the tasks to be completed is commendable. I t was a joy to volunteer and I look forward to returning.
March 19th All Kids Count Gala is a great way to sponsor Georgia foster children . Download the reply card for tickets or sponsorships on the website at www.foster cares.org. This organization started in 1996 out of a garage to help support quality stable homes that wanted to help our children in crisis. With the help of the faith based and civic organizations, combined with businesses and the regular public, FCSF provides over $15 million worth of goods each year for under $400,000. WIth a handful of paid staff and over 30 volunteer regular staff, it manages 50 to 200 weekly volunteers to provide this service to the foster children for free. FCSF donates free clothing, toys and safe quality infant care equipment to over 3000 children throughout Georgia each year with no governmental funding. It's a we thing, not a me thing. We, together, with DFCS are a partnership that is improving the quality of care that the caseworkers can give to our children in crisis. We can and do make a difference. With this support, the caseworkers, foster families, and the children can only win! Providing training 8 times per year to enhance the education of caring for abused and neglected children with trained professionals in their fields can only help further the success of foster families caring for their foster child. The North Georgia Coalition is a partnership with DFCS, Fulton County to start, to recruit quality homes throughout our communities and faith based organizations and work directly with the DFCS caseworkers, the children and their families to improve reunification success rates and adoption success. Prom-A-Palooza, seen on World News tonight with Diane Sawyer in March of 2010 helps foster teens get to attend their own high school proms with dignity and hope but providing dresses, accessories, shoes and make up with application consultation for that special dream night at prom.
Review from Guidestar
