What began as a modest undertaking three years ago by a small group at Northeast Christian Church, Rockford, has turned into an annual tradition and a growing church ministry.
Led by congregation member Bob Coffey, an LSSI Rockford Foster Care Licensing Representative, the small group hosted a holiday dinner for LSSI foster parents in 2017 with just 15 volunteers. In December 2019, 100 volunteers from the church were needed to serve at their third dinner, which hosted 200 foster parents and their children.
“Our congregation donated over $5,000 to supply every family at the dinner with gift cards,” said Coffey. “We added gift cards that LSSI donated, so each home received $100 in gift cards to help with the holidays.”
Coffey drives a larger mission at Northeast Christian Church to support foster parents in other ways, largely partnering with LSSI, to provide annual events like their summer Foster Parent Picnic, a Parents’ Night Out, and trauma-based training for foster parents and staff.
The church has no budget for any of these activities. They continue to seek generous supporters to help offset their costs.
“Our group at church has taken on the name ‘Hope Moves’ because we do not plan to just sit and hope!” said Coffey.
