There are a variety of ways to help others in need. We know that everyone can’t serve as a foster parent, but everyone can do something. If you’re still looking for your something, or have the capacity to add a little more something to your current efforts to help kids in foster care, read on to learn about a powerful movement called Light Up Foster Care through an interview with Jordan and Mallory, founders of the Light of Mine Ranch.
Jordan and Mallory Combs (right) with long time foster parents and friends, Joe and Julie (left).
Light of Mine Ranch is faith-based non-profit out of South Dakota. Fostering Great Ideas is not religiously affiliated.
What is the primary purpose of your Light Up Foster Care t-shirt campaign?
The primary goal of our t-shirt campaign is to have other individuals, organizations, teams, churches and businesses shine a light on the foster care system. Ultimately, we want foster families and children in care to feel supported and know there is a community of people who support them. We hope our campaign will help bring about more foster care reform as well as give people an opportunity to share positive stories of foster care.
What’s your big-picture, pie-in-the-sky dream for the future of child welfare?
Our dream is that communities will rally around their foster parents, as well as all of those involved in the foster care system and shine a light on children in foster care, foster families, biological families, social services, case workers and supervisors, judges and attorneys, CASA workers, teachers, churches, businesses, community, law enforcement and all other support organizations.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about kids in care, and how do your programs spread awareness of the truth about the plight of these children?
Many people believe kids in care are troublemakers, or too traumatized to be successful. We believe every child deserves the chance to experience unconditional love in a family that is supported and committed to each child’s individual needs. Our organization spreads a message of hope and restoration. We want to be a light where many children are coming from darkness. We also know that many foster parents are overwhelmed and on the verge of giving up. We want them to know they are valued, and their sacrifices are not in vain.
How can these shirts improve a child’s situation?
Foster parents are big supporters [of the shirt campaign] because they are naturally passionate about foster care. Our shirt got the attention of Miss Washington DC 2019, Cordelia Cranshaw, who is a huge advocate for foster care and Thompson Child & Family Focus in North Carolina, which purchased nearly 30 shirts! We are hoping this platform will help us get the attention of businesses and individuals willing to help make an impact.
What specific programs use profits from the shirt sales?
For us, the shirt is more about the vision of seeing communities all over the country step up and support foster care. The shirt is $22.22 to represent that every two minutes a child enters foster care. Our profit margins are small, however, there are options to make additional donations. Funds raised will help us continue operations as we prepare to build homes for foster families, centralized on a ranch property.
Some of our current programs include:
- Providing Native American regalia to children in foster care.
- Opportunities to sponsor a child in foster care.
- Planting seeds to help grieving families.
- Custom birthday cakes for children in care.
How has your family been positively impacted as foster parents?
Being a foster family has taught us so much about trusting God and relying on Him. We have also learned how important it is to live in the moment. Each child is a gift from God, and sometimes that time is cut short. All we can do is give them 100% while we have the chance. We have parented countless children, and seeing the joy on their faces as they experience unconditional love and support is priceless.
We always just want to encourage others to dive into their local foster care agencies and see where they can help. We didn’t have a clue what was happening in our own community until we started to check it out. Not everyone can be a foster parent, but there are so many great resources for helpful ideas and even special prayers so that everyone can still make an impact.
Click here to order a Light Up Foster Care t-shirt. Shirts would make great gifts for family and friends, or send them a link to order it themselves as a way to show their support of your family’s fostering efforts.
Follow this link to learn more about Light of Mine Ranch.
Fostering Great Ideas does not make any profit off the sale or support of Light Up Foster Care or the Light of Mine Ranch. We support the mission and efforts of those working to improve the lives of children and youth in foster care.
