When we created PurposeOne:27, we modeled our wheel of service after God’s will for this ministry. We hope that in exploring these areas you will be drawn to plug into one.
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN? We understand that not everyone can be a foster parent, but we believe everyone can find an area to serve in the foster community. Whether you have a talent to share, time to volunteer, you’re a business owner that wants to bless a foster family, or you prefer to give financially to support a family’s needs, WE CAN HELP!
Would you like information on becoming a foster family? We can direct you! Join us in responding to the foster crisis in Walton County by matching your abilities with our wheel of ministry and service. There are no minimum requirements. You can help as much or as little as you desire.
MEALS
One of the best ways to bless a foster family is to take away the worry of dinner and allow them to look forward to a homemade, hot meal delivered to their doorstep.
The first week of taking in a new child can be filled with medical/dental appointments, court appointments, sibling visits, school registration, buying clothes, shoes, etc. Once you let us know this is your area of interest, we will add you to our Facebook page where we post meal needs as they arise via a website/app called MealTrain.
You simply open the Mealtrain link, posted on the Facebook page, review the details (family’s address, food allergies, calendar of days available to take a meal) and sign up to bring a meal on the night of your choice.
You will be so blessed when you meet these families upon delivery of your meal and so will they.
SUPPLIES
Our supply ministry is designed to assist foster families with any needed supplies necessary for the care of children who are in their home.
It is especially needed when first taking in a foster child as they often come with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.If you feel this is an area that you can help please contact us.
We need people to give financially as it is often easier to give gift cards which allow the foster parent to pick the items they prefer when shopping for necessities such as car seats, appropriately sized clothing, shoes, school supplies, bed linens, etc. While foster families do receive some financial assistance from the state, it is not nearly all inclusive.
We also can use help transporting supplies and/or gift cards to the foster families. Simply picking up the supplies and delivering them to the family is helpful and a great opportunity to get to know them.
SUPPORT GROUP
When PurposeOne:27 formed in 2017, foster parents informed us that the closest support group was in Okaloosa County.
By the end of that year we started the only Foster Parent Support Group in Walton County so our foster parents do not have to drive so far to get the support they need as well as the ongoing education hours that are required to maintain licensure. Our monthly support group meeting are a great time to meet and get to know our local foster parents.
We need volunteers who can provide snacks and/or drinks for our foster parents while they meet. Maybe you have special experience in childcare or mental health and believe your insight could be helpful for our foster parents.
If you’d like to assist with our Support Group Ministry please contact us for further details.
CONNECTION
Our desire is to help connect:
1 – Foster parents with resources they will find helpful along their foster journey
2 – Potential foster parents with resources to get started on their foster journey
3 – People in our community with opportunities to help minister to a local foster family
Please visit our “Foster Families” page for connections you may find beneficial.
Do you have knowledge of a resource that we do not have listed? Feel free to contact us through our Connect Page and share your resource so we can make it available to our visitors.
PRAYER
PurposeOne:27 strongly believes in the power of prayer. Would you be able to commit to praying for a foster family?
Are you able to send a card once in a while to tell them you are praying for them?
Maybe you could call to check in on them once a month to ask how you can pray for them.
Our foster families tell us that knowing someone is praying for them brings them great comfort.
They have many prayer needs…..Contact us and we will plug you into our prayer ministry!
PARTNERSHIPS
Would you like to offer your services to show foster families you support them?
Currently, we have local businesses who provide a meals at the frequency of their choice (monthly, quarterly, etc), we have nail salons who provide one manicure or pedicure to each foster family every month, as well as a photography service who takes portraits of foster children (often the first portraits of their lives outside of school pictures).
Do you have a service that a foster family or child could benefit from?
When you partner with PurposeOne:27 we are able to ensure that your services go to local, active foster homes. We need businesses in every part of the county because our foster parents live in all areas from Paxton to Santa Rosa Beach and all in between. Contact Gina Johnson at 850-830-7533 and let her know what service you’d like to offer and how often. We provide our business partners with a welcome packet and a window applique to display at your business as well as place your name and logo on our website as a supporter of our ministry.
EDUCATION
Would you like to replicate a foster support ministry in your church or community? Our dream is that every county in Florida has a PurposeOne:27 or similar ministry to support foster families so that no child has to go out of their community for placement. We dream of having a loving home for every child who needs one. Let us come teach you how to implement your own foster support system.
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
Find out how you can GET INVOLVED…
Whether you want to invest your time, talent or finances, there is always a way to help support the foster community.