Foster Care Essentials logo

We provide essentials, at no charge, to families that care for children in foster/kinship care. Essentials include clothing, toys, diapers, school supplies, and personal hygiene products

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Our Impact

We provide essential items to foster/kinship care children, helping families focus on what matters most. With support from local donors, we’ve made a big difference in the lives of foster/kinship families.

Family members hug

200+

Families served report a significant positive impact on their ability to care for children

The mother is whispering to her child

500+

Children served since 2022

A grandmother's hands shaped into heart shaped binoculars to use with her grandchild

100%

Of donations go directly toward helping foster and kinship families

Make an Impact

See Our Mission in Action

Click “Watch on YouTube” to View Video

Co-founders Sharon Bryant and Melissa Mercon Smith speak with WCVB Channel 5 (Boston) about Foster Care Essentials. Click here for full article.

How We Work

We make it simple for foster and kinship care families to access the essentials they need. Please visit us every other Saturday. Families can come and shop for clothing, jackets, footwear, hygiene products, underwear, school supplies, and diapers.

The dates for the remainder of 2025 are November 22nd, December 6th, and December 20th.

Learn More About Our Process

Our Vision

To ensure that every child in foster & kinship care has access to the essentials they need to thrive, empowering families to provide a safe, supportive and nurturing environment.

family of three sitting on a bed taking a selfie

If we have it - you can have it. If we don’t have it - we can get it.

A message from a family about our BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT

THANK YOU!

Although my foster children are both too young for this event, and my bio-children are all homeschooled and do not need school supplies, I wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt THANK YOU!

Thank you for including bio children in this invitation! I can only imagine the work and expense that goes into putting an event like this on, and I’m sure it would be so much simpler to have it for foster children only.

In our home, we strive to make sure we are consistent across the board for all the children in our family. If we were going school shopping at Walmart then EVERYONE would be school shopping at Walmart. If one child was getting a new backpack then EVERYONE would be getting a new backpack etc.

So thank you for making it easy to treat all the children in a family the same and give each one a wonderful experience getting ready for school. I appreciate all the hard work and effort that no doubt goes into the work that you do!

Many, many thanks,

~ Foster Mom to 2 and Forever Mom to 3 (and counting lol)

Testimonials

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    “Thank you so much for being a support to us. There are not many. :) We have been foster parents for 7 years and have never had support like this for items. Thank you so much for what you do!”

    — Erin K., foster parent

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    “I can’t express my appreciation for the clothes & supplies. They will go a long way…I think their wardrobe is greater than mine!”

    — Kathleen N., foster parent

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    “Thank you so much for all you do!”

    — Liz C., kinship family

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    “Thank you so much for all the help you have provided. I appreciate it.”

    —  Christine D., foster parent

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    “Thank you so much! Thanks for going above & beyond!”

    —   Allie C., foster parent