Welcome to the inaugural issue of Nurturing Our Village!

We have established this website to highlight important resources and organizations which are available to families in need. Whether it’s a single parent trying to balance the responsibilities of caring for children while trying to balance the demands of their job(s), or a relative taking in extended family, or a family suddenly faced with an unexpected diagnosis, or managing a child with special needs, there are organizations dedicated to help.  If you’ve come across this newsletter, and you’re in a season of life where you have capacity to give time or resources, you have many opportunities to invest in the lives of others.  As we each do what we can, we lift the burdens of others and step-by-step, make Our Village stronger!

As we are entering the holiday season, we’ll be focusing on opportunities to GIVE.  These are just a few of the many organizations listed on the site you can consider.  

Thank you for doing what you can. 

Many blessings,
The Nurturing Our Village Team

More than 407,000 children are currently in foster care, lacking permanent homes.  Being a foster child is a constant reminder of what one has lost, and the lack of belonging.  As much as a foster family tries to fill that gap, the journey is a painful one, filled with uncertainty and questioning of one’s identity.  One simple way you can show tangible love to a foster child is by granting a “wish”.  Here are two organizations which post wishes of current foster children.  Take a moment to see how you can make a foster child’s holiday season brighter. 
 

One Simple Wish believes that everyone should experience love, hope & joy. Join them in restoring happiness to those who have been impacted by the trauma of foster care and childhood crisis.  Check out any of the 250 wishes currently listed, big and small: https://www.onesimplewish.org

Friends of Foster Kids serves children in Macomb County, Michigan.  Check out ways you can get involved with that work: https://friendsoffosterkids.org/

 

2.7 million children in the US currently have a parent in prison.  You can lighten the burden of the stigma and separation by providing a child a gift for the holidays.  

Working through local organizations, Angel Tree coordinates gift deliveries to children of those incarcerated: https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/angel-tree/angel-tree-christmas/

Prison Families Alliance provides meals and gifts for families of the incarcerated, as well as providing year-round support.  https://prisonfamiliesalliance.org/

 

Make a Wish Foundation provides “wishes” to critically ill children.   Check here for how to get involved: https://wish.org/
 

Bianca’s Kids grants wishes to any child who is struggling due to mental, physical, emotional or financial
issues.  https://biancaskids.org/