Foster Village
Children deserve a village beyond the system.
Recently the Graceful Spaces Team was introduced to an Austin, Texas-based organization, Foster Village. The mission of Foster Village™ is to come alongside children and families in the child welfare system and show them that they are not alone.
The Foster Village programs aim to not only Equip families with basic necessities, but also to provide therapeutic Connection through community engagement, and Advocate for a more dignified experience for our children in the foster care system.
For us, the realization of how little the children have and the fact that most caregivers have only a few hours to prepare for pick up struck our hearts. In that short time between when they receive the call and when they pick up the child, they will need basic, age appropriate necessities including clothing, new undergarments, socks, toothbrushes, and in some cases car seats, beds and safety equipment.
At their multi-use Resource Centers (located in Dripping Springs and North Austin), they are able to make all of the basic necessities available free of charge to those caring for children entering or exiting the foster care system.
The Austin, Texas Graceful Spaces Team (and our sweet families!) put our skills to use at the North Austin Resource center by adding organizing solutions to an already incredible facility. One step into the resource center and you can feel the overwhelming love and thought that has been given. From the “shop rooms” to the community table to the incredible sensory/playroom, there is a very clear desire to support and love in the highest way.
Which is why we’re THRILLED to take you on a tour of the North Austin Resource Center!
No organization help needed in here! The staff at Foster Village did an amazing job setting up rolling racks and bins that can accommodate large amounts of clothing while still making it easy to find what you are looking for! Way to go Foster Village!!
Sustainable Solution: To help with the flow of clothing and supplies we adjusted the existing Elfa shelving in the playroom to create an “overflow” stock wall. We used various sizes of weathertight totes that can be used for everything from overflow toiletries to overflow clothing.
The biggest change we made was swapping the location of the “Baby Shop” and the “Game/Toy" Shop”. Outside of the playroom was the toy/game shop as well as bulk item shopping (car seats, strollers, beds, etc.). Space was limited in this area and the location of the stoppable toys being outside of the playroom presented a challenge for keeping the non-shoppable and shoppable options separated.
Our solution was to move the toys and games into the space where the baby items were (toward the back of the house) and move all the baby items up to the front of the home, allowing us to keep strollers & car seats together with diapers and wipes.
No Graceful Spaces project is complete without the help of Scripts By Sarah AshLEy! For each shop room she provided a check list of items - one more step TO provide a simple, easy and respectful way for families to shop.
Our next challenge was displaying accessories in a small space! (Think headbands, hats, hair supplies, chap stick, deodorant, soaps, toothpaste…for ages 0-18!) Organizing friends, you guys know there was only one choice! Elfa! We’ve used Elfa wall panels to clearly display each available item. Shelving was added to house overflow at the top and larger toiletries at the bottom. To ensure everything is visible we’re using open milk crate boxes from Target.
The “Game & Toy Shop” also has some very basic but very special items - suitcases and backpacks. Most children in the foster system have very few belongings and most don’t have a basic suitcase or bag to carry those few items in. Typically they move with a shopping or grocery bag. Which makes this shopping option special!
At the top of these shelves you’ll also see some very special “Emergency Birthday Party” boxes provided by Pop-Up Birthday for those children who are being placed on or near their birthdays. Pop-Up Birthday is an Austin based organization who celebrate and recognize children in foster care on their special day by providing birthday parties in a box. A need that is easily overlooked - most foster children have never had a birthday celebration. From Star Wars to Barbie, the themes are specific and customizable allowing the opportunities for connection and joy.
The Pop-Up Birthday Mission: To provide joy, hope and normalcy to children in foster care through a personalized birthday experience. Creating a moment of connection between the child and a loving adult, opening a path for healing through joy.
Foster Village goes beyond basic needs to provide community and support. Their facilities host events and support groups which means their kitchen can get busy! Knowing the volunteers can vary, we’ve labeled everything so it’s easy to know how to restock and clean the space.
You’ll notice we didn’t use our standard vinyl labels throughout the project - we intentionally used a p-touch label maker so that updates and changes to stock inventory and shop bins could be made quickly and easily!
Here’s How You Can Help!
When you donate items from their list of needs, items will be available directly to those caring for children in the central Texas foster care system. Foster Village organizes basic necessities, clothes, new undergarments, socks, toothbrushes, and some wish list items into Welcome Packs for each child who come into care, along with supplying families with larger new items such as beds, cribs, and car seats. When available, they also include thoughtful donations- in the form of gift certificates or discount cards- from local businesses that want to support and uplift foster families and children. Your monetary and tangible donations are making a significant impact in the lives of these children and the families caring for them.
We are so grateful and honored for the opportunity to work with such an amazing organization such as Foster Village! As we seek to give back and support our community, we encourage you to support an organization who is digging in to make an impact!