Amber Richardson, Founder and Executive Director, and her husband have been foster and adoptive parents for 16 years in the Omaha community. The first child they fostered arrived with a single trash bag containing a few worn-out clothes and a handful of plastic easter eggs considered to be his toys. They were shocked, but they learned over the years that this story was not unique. From their experiences, they have identified a critical need for quality clothing for children in foster care— clothing without holes, stains, or damage. Thus, Foster Love was born.
Foster Heart + Hope's mission is to provide basic needs and opportunities for children and families impacted by foster care so they feel confident, empowered, and valued. We serve children and families impacted by foster care in the greater Omaha community through the Foster Heart + Hope Boutique, our Artsy Kids program, and our Mobile Studio. We are expanding services to include a future job readiness program and a community facing boutique known as Beloved.
- Since inception, we have served 1523 unique minors and 566 unique adults - this includes case workers, CASA volunteers, and caregivers.
- In fiscal year 2023-24, the Foster Care Review Office tracked information about the experiences of 6,731 children who were removed from their homes.
- As of October 15th, 2024 we have provided 4,100 shopping experiences and 500 Artsy Kids experiences.