02June
Foster WV
In West Virginia, over 7,000 children are in foster care, and the number is growing every day.
EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING
“Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” –James 1:27
As a church, our goal is to create a community of support, encouragement, and prayer for children experiencing foster care and the adults that courageously take on the role of foster, adoptive, and kinship parents.
Foster WV is a River Ridge Teays Valley ministry dedicated to raising awareness about the growing foster care crisis in West Virginia, recruiting families to open their hearts and homes to children in need through local child welfare agencies, and supporting and resourcing foster, adoptive, and kinship families and child welfare workers. We work to reinforce families through volunteer support called “care communities” (i.e. meals, babysitting, and household chores), access to our onsite Foster WV Supply Closet (i.e Amazon Wishlist), monthly Support Groups, Go Local projects and Foster Family Day events.
As a church family, we can accomplish this mission when everyone takes steps to pray, give, and act. Caring for vulnerable children and families is God's heart and our responsibility, and we believe that together, we can foster West Virginia!
FIND YOUR SOMETHING
All of us can help foster West Virginia when we pray, give, and act.
PRAY
CHILDREN
Pray for the 7,000+ kids being impacted by the WV foster care crisis.
FAMILIES
Pray for the biological parents who are going through a challenging season apart from their children.
Pray for the current foster parents as they love and serve the children and families in their care.
Pray for new foster parents as they step up and begin fostering.
Pray for adoptive families as they raise children who still cope with past trauma.
Pray for kinship families as they care for children and navigate difficult family situations.
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
Pray for the child welfare staff who selflessly serve the most vulnerable families and children in our communities every day. We pray that staff might feel seen, valued, and the presence of the local church would impact child welfare in a life-changing way.
Pray for the advocates, attorneys, judges, and CASA workers in WV that they will be given wisdom and discernment when advocating and making decisions for vulnerable families and children.
OUR CHURCH
Pray for our church family and our partners as we take steps to help foster West Virginia!
DOWNLOAD THE FOSTER CARE PRAYER GUIDE
GIVE
GIVE to help our church, churches across the state, and our partners recruit, train, and support foster, adoptive and kinship parents and families.PROVIDE
Purchase high-need items from the designated Amazon Wish List to help stock the Foster WV Supply Closet. This list will include clothes, car seats, and beds for children in care. New items will be safely stored at River Ridge Church Teays Valley and made available to families in need. Note, we do not accept used items. Gently used items can be donated through the Foster Closet operated by Bible Center Church.
ACT
SERVE
Serve and support foster parents and children by providing practical help, such as delivering meals, childcare, running errands, doing yard work, and more. You can also offer encouragement and emotional support by consistently communicating with the parents, and praying for them.
FOSTER
You can change a child’s life and we would love to support you along the way by providing you with prayer, supplies, a care community and resources. Learn more about becoming a foster parent to a baby, toddler, child, or teen who needs a loving home.
If you are a current foster, adoptive or kinship family and would like to request a care community, please click below.
If you know a current foster, adoptive or kinship family in need of a care community, please click the link below.
FOSTER WV SUPPLY CLOSET
The Foster WV Supply Closet currently stocks new supplies designed to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families with needed items listed on the Amazon Wishlist (If you wish to donate, go to the GIVE tab above). The supply closet includes underwear and socks, diapers, wipes, car seats, hygiene items, cribs, beds, bedding, and other high-need supplies for families. Foster/adoptive/kinship parents can fill out the form in the link below to submit a request to shop in the Foster WV Supply Closet free of charge. Once an order is placed, all in-stock items must be picked up at River Ridge Church Teays Valley during church hours at an agreed-upon time.
Upcoming
Events
FOSTER WV MERCH STORE
Show your love of all things Foster WV! Shop the Merch Store Now!
Mission WV - Featuring Foster WV