Foster Friends: Central Florida’s Foster Homes, Backed by a Community
In April 2017, a foster group home in Oviedo asked for a used Xbox, and iPrevail volunteers have shown up for foster kids across Central Florida ever since.
A community, not a case file
iPrevail does not run foster homes. Friends of Children and Families holds that responsibility, and does it well: shelter, structure, mentoring. iPrevail’s job is to rally neighbors, churches, and businesses to fill the gaps a group home budget cannot cover. Right now that means five group homes across Oviedo, Union Park, Winter Garden, Palm Bay, and Cocoa.
What volunteers actually do
Birthday boxes arrive on a kid’s actual birthday. Homecoming season means donated dresses, a hairstylist, and a photographer turning a group home living room into a boutique for an afternoon. Summer means outings: in 2019, 30 teens and 10 staff across five homes spent the summer at Busch Gardens, an escape room, and a water sports complex, paid for by volunteers and sponsors like Burns and McDonnell.
The neighbors show up
The Facebook group Wednesday Hugus started in 2017 has grown to more than 1,400 members. Local police have told organizers that call volumes from the homes have dropped since the group began, because the teens have consistent adults checking on them instead of just a system.
5
group homes served across Central Florida
1,400+
members in the Foster Friends Facebook community
30
teens on sponsored summer outings in 2019
Lorena Delgado rallied her insurance office for Christmas 2019. They shopped from each foster home’s wishlist. Five homes got new TVs, beds, and a Christmas they remember.
Lorena Delgado, Foster Friends volunteer
Five homes could use you this season
Deliver a birthday box, staff a homecoming boutique, or sponsor a summer outing for a group home near you.
Give the village it takes
In 2019, sponsors funded a summer of outings for 30 teens across five foster homes. Your gift keeps that going for the next home, and the next kid’s birthday box.