National Foster Care Month 

Find Your Something…

May is National Foster Care Month! As part of New Hope’s mission, we believe in bringing the love of Jesus to our neighborhood in a tangible way. We are partnering with Project Belong, a faith-based foster care advocacy program, and their initiative called Don’t Go Alone, which supports youth who are aging out of foster care and have not been adopted.  

Fairfax County has 20 students in foster care who are graduating from high school without a permanent family. Project Belong and the Fairfax County Department of Family Services are helping to host a graduation party for them in July. New Hope Church is creating a care package for each graduate, filled with gifts and supplies to help them as they start in adulthood. Basic things we take for granted – like can openers and shower curtains – can help teens settle into their own place and feel like they are not forgotten. Our goal is to collect $200 per care package or $4,000 total. You can purchase a share of the package or gather with a group of friends to buy a care package together – there are many donation options, and every dollar goes towards the students! Whether you are able to give, or not, there are many opportunities to offer support:

GIVE – We are raising money to provide graduation gifts for students aging out of foster care right here in Fairfax County. We can be part of the support system they are missing! Visit nhc.click/carepackage and help us be the family!

PRAY – Pray for foster and adoptive families as they travel the long and difficult road to creating a family or helping a child reunify with their birth family. Pray for children in foster care to get the help they need by working in our hearts to provide care and community.

VOLUNTEER – Join us on August 1st to help celebrate the graduates! We need help with party set up, hosting, clean up, and possibly some behind-the-scenes prep in the days before. The event will be held on August 1, from 12:00–3:00 pm at Corner Pocket on the George Mason Fairfax Campus. Email Karenna.Rowenhorst@newhope.org if you want to help out and be part of this special event.

MENTOR – Connect with Don’t Go Alone, the mentoring program at Project Belong for teens who have aged out of foster care and need a supportive, committed adult to be a friend and guide. Contact Margaret Hoffer at dontgoalone@projectbelongva.org to learn more.