our drives to help
Project Hop(e) Spring/Easter Basket Drive (February-march)
Spreading Hope, One Basket at a Time
For youth in care, a Spring Basket is more than a seasonal gift—it’s a powerful reminder that they are seen, valued, and loved. These simple acts of kindness bring comfort, joy, and hope to children during a season meant for renewal and new beginnings.
Volunteers are at the heart of this
initiative. By giving your time and compassion, you help transform an ordinary basket into a meaningful moment—one that tells a child, you matter, and you are not alone.
Join us in creating Spring Baskets filled with care, dignity, and hope. Together, we can make a lasting difference—one child, one basket, one act of love at a time.
Project Happiness Holiday Drive (October-december)
Bring Holiday Joy to Youth in Care
Through our sponsorship program, we connect generous sponsors and donors with kids in care, fulfilling their holiday wish lists. Sponsors provide gifts based on the needs and wants outlined by foster parents, ensuring each child experiences a special holiday.
The drive begins in October, as we seek volunteers and collect wish lists from foster families. Your support can make a world of difference. Join us in making the holidays brighter for youth in care!
A Special Message For Our 2025 Holiday Gift Drive Donors:
On behalf of the Fostering Child Happiness Foundation, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you who generously purchased gifts and/or made a financial contribution for our Holiday Gift Drive. Because of your kindness and willingness to give, more than 275 children and families within the foster care community experienced moments of joy, warmth, and feeling truly seen during the holiday season.
The holidays can be especially complex for youth in care and the families who support them. Your generosity helped ease some of that weight by providing thoughtful gifts that reminded children and caregivers alike that they are supported by a caring and compassionate community. Every gift purchased represented more than an item—it was a message of love, encouragement, and belonging.
Because of donors like you, we can continue supporting foster families throughout the year—whether through school supplies, items for new placements, or creating joyful experiences specifically for kids in care, such as our summer camp day events. The impact of your generosity reaches far beyond the holiday season.
Thank you for choosing to stand with youth in care and the families who open their hearts and homes to them. We are deeply grateful for your support and for being part of the Fostering Child Happiness community.
With sincere gratitude,
Beth
Fostering Child Happiness Foundation
Stuff the Backpack: back to school supply Drive (June-August)
Stuff the Backpack: back to school supply Drive (June-August)
We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we successfully filled 150 backpacks in 2025 with essential school supplies for youth in care and foster families.
These backpacks are more than just supplies — they’re a symbol of hope, support, and the power of community. With your help, these young people can start the school year feeling confident, prepared, and ready for a great year of learning!
From all of us: thank you for being part of this meaningful initiative. Your support truly makes a difference!
A special thank you to Lombard Junior Womens Club and Life Long Learners of Downers Grove for hosting special events to gather school supplies for our "Stuff the Backpack" drive!
Message from a few of our foster families:
"As a single foster mom of five who took in a newborn foster placement this week, thank you SO much. I had 2.5 hours from the time I got the call until the time I met the baby and had to purchase a new car seat, many baby essentials, and hire sitters for my other kids as we have been adjusting to life with a NIcU baby and many appointments. Knowing that FCH has offered to take care of school supplies for my older children has taken a huge load off in more ways than one and allowed us to focus on acclimating to this change as a family. Thank you for all you do!"
- Raven L.
"I picked up a second job just to make it in this economy raising 3 kids with additional needs. I am so, so grateful for your generosity of taking the school supplies off my plate. Thank you sincerely!"
-Rachel K.
FCH SUMMER camp Adventure (JULY)
Stuff the Backpack: back to school supply Drive (June-August)
Overnight summer camp offers children valuable opportunities to build friendships, explore new interests, gain confidence, develop teamwork skills, stay active, and discover a greater sense of purpose. For youth in care, however, attending overnight camp can be challenging due to time away from home, support systems, visitations, and other commitments.
To help make camp experiences more accessible, the Rotary Club of Elmhurst has partnered with Fostering Child Happiness Foundation and YMCA Camp Duncan to offer a free one-day camp adventure for youth in care, adopted youth, former youth in care, and foster families.
Held at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois, this special event gives children ages 6–17 the chance to enjoy the fun, connection, and adventure of summer camp—without the overnight stay.
Help sponsor youth in care for a summer camp adventure! We are seeking individuals, organizations and businesses to sponsor kids to attend the FCH Summer 2026 Adventure Camp! Campers explore nature and participate in a variety of camp activities including archery, rope courses, climbing tower, arts and crafts, STEM activities, swimming, boating and team building activities.
Donate to Fostering Child Happiness
Your donation will help us to continue our mission of supporting youth in care and foster families in our local communities. Every dollar counts and will make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Monetary donations are used to support our programs and drives, as well as to help foster families with necessary items for new placements such as furniture, clothing, strollers, carseats and any other needs they may need assistance with.
Foster Family Closet
When a child enters foster care, it often happens with little notice and even fewer belongings. Our Foster Closet exists to meet families in those moments with compassion, dignity, and care.
Filled with clothing, shoes, baby gear, and everyday essentials, the Foster Closet helps children feel safe, cared for, and valued from the very first day in a new home.
Every item shared and every hour volunteered makes a lasting difference in a child’s life.
For foster families, the Foster Closet eases both the financial and emotional strain of a child’s first days in care. By providing clothing, shoes, baby gear, and everyday essentials, it allows caregivers to focus on what truly matters—bonding, comforting, and loving the children—rather than rushing to gather the basics.
Every item given carries a powerful message: you are not alone, and your community is here to support you.
Together, we’re helping children step into a new chapter with confidence, warmth, and hope—one child, one family, one act of kindness at a time.