Foster WV
Fostering Hope. Supporting Families. Caring for Children.
River Ridge Church Teays Valley is committed to caring for children and families impacted by foster care in West Virginia. Foster WV exists to raise awareness, provide support, and mobilize our church to respond to a growing need with compassion and action.
“Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
— James 1:27
A Growing Need in West Virginia
In West Virginia, more than 6,000 children are currently in foster care—and that number continues to rise. Foster WV believes everyone can do something to support vulnerable children and the families who care for them.
What is Foster WV?
Foster WV is a River Ridge Teays Valley ministry dedicated to:
- Raising awareness about the foster care crisis in West Virginia
- Recruiting and encouraging foster, adoptive, and kinship families
- Supporting families and child welfare workers through practical resources and community
We do this through:
- Care Communities (meals, babysitting, household help)
- The Foster WV Supply Closet
- Support Groups
- Go Local projects
- Foster Family Day events
- Together, we pray, give, and act—believing that God can use all of us to make a difference.
Serving Opportunities
Foster WV Care Community
- Serve a local foster family with prayer and 1 meal a month.
- Recruiting those who like to do laundry (pick up & drop off) and mow grass to serve families on an as-
needed basis.
Foster WV Mentoring Nearly 76% of West Virginia youth age out of the foster care system without a permanent family and do not have the support and resources to succeed in adulthood. Heritage Builders was prayerfully designed by Lifeline Children’s Services (https://lifelinechild.org) to offer youth discipleship and ongoing support using education, relationship, and connection to resources through the local church. Foster WV Mentoring at River Ridge Church Teays Valley will host the Heritage Builders program and provide relationship through volunteers who will serve as advocates to the youth in the program.
- Serving youth (18+) starting in January 2027.
- Meet once a month and mentor youth aging out of the foster care system while they learn about money management, healthy relationships, education and job preparation, self-care, daily living, and navigating resources.
- Great for empty nesters!
Volunteer Contact: Monica Robinson
email: monicarobinson@riverridge.org
mobile: (304)951-5162
Royal Family KIDS Mentoring
In West Virginia, kids ages 6-12 make up 24% of the foster care system. Royal Family KIDS Mentoring is hosted by River Ridge Church Teays Valley in conjunction with New Heights Church to mentor elementary-aged kids (ages 6-12) who are in the foster care system through skills mastery, character building, and fun!
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- Meet once a month and mentor elementary-aged kids (ages 6-12) through skills mastery, character building, and fun.
- Training and background checks required.
Volunteer Contact: Bob Akers
email: rfkclub@riverridge.org
mobile: (304) 610-6782
Celebrating 4 Years of Foster WV!
River Ridge Church Teays Valley is celebrating 4 years of Foster WV—Supporting families, serving children, and responding to God’s call to care for the vulnerable.
Upcoming Foster WV Events
Foster WV Lifelines Support Groups
Foster WV Supply Closet
The Foster WV Supply Closet provides new, high-need items to foster, adoptive, and kinship families at no cost.
Items Include:
- Underwear and socks
- Diapers and wipes
- Hygiene items
- Car seats
- Cribs, beds, and bedding
How to Give
You can support the Supply Closet by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List. All donated items are safely stored at River Ridge Church, Teays Valley, and made available to families in need.
Please note: We do not accept used items. Gently used donations can be given through the Foster Closet at Bible Center Church.
Find Your Something
All of us can help foster West Virginia when we pray, give, and serve.
Pray
Children
Pray for the 6,000+ 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, and 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!
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, that we do not accept used items. Gently used items can be donated through the Foster Closet operated by Bible Center Church.
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 caring community, please click the link below.
Foster WV Merch Store
Show your love of all things Foster WV!
Questions?
Please contact us directly: