Learn & Serve Projects
These projects serve as both an introduction of the foster care and adoption community while helping provide the children with their basic needs as they transition into temporary and permanent families. Each volunteer project is a great way to engage members in a meaningful activity and encourage bonding, while making a positive difference for children.
To arrange a Learn and Serve Project with your congregation, please call 713 364-6368 or email info@cultivatingfamilies.org
FIRST NIGHT KITS and BACKPACKS
Who: All ages and skill levels
What: This event involves a packing assembly line of essential toiletry items (for the kits), pajamas, stuffed animals, coloring books, blankets and more (for the backpacks). Both kits and backpacks replace children’s trash bag luggage and help ease them into a new home. CPS workers will have these on hand for the children at the time they are placed in a foster home.
How: We ask the congregations to secure these items by holding drives or purchasing them for these events. For a more comprehensive information on running a First Night Kit or Backpack activity, please contact us.
What: This event involves a packing assembly line of essential toiletry items (for the kits), pajamas, stuffed animals, coloring books, blankets and more (for the backpacks). Both kits and backpacks replace children’s trash bag luggage and help ease them into a new home. CPS workers will have these on hand for the children at the time they are placed in a foster home.
How: We ask the congregations to secure these items by holding drives or purchasing them for these events. For a more comprehensive information on running a First Night Kit or Backpack activity, please contact us.
BUILDING BEDS
Who: This project involves volunteers from many different ages and skill levels. The leader needs to be a manually skillful congregant and builders need to be comfortable with light power tools. There is something for everyone to do including securing funds, holding drives for bedding and mattresses, decorating pillowcases, and delivering finished beds to CPS.
What: Children placed in permanent or temporary housing are required to have their own bed. We provide the step-by-step guide on how to construct these simple beds that either allow a relative to take in a child and keep him/her from entering state care, or a foster family lacking a bed to take in a child, thus preventing him/her from being placed in an emergency shelter.
How: We ask congregations to secure all materials and supplies needed for the project and volunteer labor for the events and deliveries. For a more comprehensive information on running a Building Beds activity, please contact us.
What: Children placed in permanent or temporary housing are required to have their own bed. We provide the step-by-step guide on how to construct these simple beds that either allow a relative to take in a child and keep him/her from entering state care, or a foster family lacking a bed to take in a child, thus preventing him/her from being placed in an emergency shelter.
How: We ask congregations to secure all materials and supplies needed for the project and volunteer labor for the events and deliveries. For a more comprehensive information on running a Building Beds activity, please contact us.
WEIGHTED BLANKETS
Who: Experienced seamstress of any age
What: Many foster children and adopted children need weighted blankets because their evenly distributed weight has a calming effect, as the blanket “mimics a hug” and reduces tantrums. Many insurance policies do not cover the cost, which is often above $100. Sewing and donating these blankets is a great benefit to the children and families. We collaborate with local child placing agencies to identify children in need of a blanket.
How: We ask volunteers to secure their own materials for these sewing projects. For information on becoming a weighted blanket volunteer, please us.
What: Many foster children and adopted children need weighted blankets because their evenly distributed weight has a calming effect, as the blanket “mimics a hug” and reduces tantrums. Many insurance policies do not cover the cost, which is often above $100. Sewing and donating these blankets is a great benefit to the children and families. We collaborate with local child placing agencies to identify children in need of a blanket.
How: We ask volunteers to secure their own materials for these sewing projects. For information on becoming a weighted blanket volunteer, please us.
PRAYER INITIATIVE
Who: Whether part of a congregation or not, individuals can participate by becoming a prayer volunteer. Students and Adults can participate.
What: Our prayer initiative offers a guide for each prayer volunteer to pray for ten children in state care. Praying for each child individually, identified by gender and age, we believe that we can pray for a distinct expression of their needs.
How: For information on becoming a prayer volunteer, click here or contact us at 713 364-6368 or email info@cultivatingfamilies.org.
What: Our prayer initiative offers a guide for each prayer volunteer to pray for ten children in state care. Praying for each child individually, identified by gender and age, we believe that we can pray for a distinct expression of their needs.
How: For information on becoming a prayer volunteer, click here or contact us at 713 364-6368 or email info@cultivatingfamilies.org.