DEFEND THE FATHERLESS INC

In 2025 Defend the Fatherless had 543 visits to the Foster Closet and subsequently served 1,072 children. During a visit to the Foster Closet, families are able to "shop" at no cost for items including: diapers, wipes, clothing, shoes, socks, underwear, car seats, baby equipment and other essentials. Among other items, we have provided families with cribs, bassinets, bunk beds, twin beds, mattresses, swings, changing tables, exersaucers, strollers, double strollers, infant car seats, toddler car seats, swings, jumperoos, baby carriers, shoes, new socks, new underwear, diapers, wipes, clothes, winter coats, backpacks, school supplies, hats/gloves, bikes and blankets/sheets. Items are donated through the community and are not paid for by Defend. The items are then given away to families at no cost. The Beds for Kids In Care program (a sub program of the foster closet) experienced tremendous growth in 2025. It has been widely used by social workers in hopes of keeping sibling sets together or even in Family Preservation in effort to provide a safe and comfortable place for children to sleep while a biological parent is working with DSS. A total of 396 beds were provided.

For the fifth year, Defend the Fatherless partnered directly with the York County Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide Christmas to every York County child in foster care. This year, 162 children were served. Over $19,000 was raised through the on-line Santa's Helper campaign, 23 local churches and businesses hosted physical angel trees that helped to collect gift cards, totalling over $17,000. Funding for the program and through this joint community effort, equated to $36,000 and was collected to fund the program in just three short weeks! The gift cards collected were given directly to local foster families to allow them the joy of shopping for the foster children in their care and provide a connection opportunity between foster child and foster parent!