How to Help the Foster Parents in Your Life

For just over a decade, we were foster parents.

If you have friends, neighbors, or family who are fostering, here is my most significant advice: No matter what they say, they could use your help.

The days are long, the nights are even longer, and the extra appointments, visits, driving, and people constantly coming in and out of the home can really wear you down.

During our time fostering, nine children came through our home. One stayed just for the weekend, one stayed forever, and the rest stayed with us for one to two years. The only reason we could serve for as long as we did was was the grace of God and an incredible support network.

Often, when people asked what we needed or how they could help, I didn’t even have the brain capacity to answer. But when someone said, “When can I bring dinner this week?” or “I left a treat on your porch.” or “Can I pick up Lily from soccer?” That kind of support kept us going.

Here are some practical ways to support foster parents:

1) Babysitting: 
One thing I rarely saw in ten years was alone time, with myself or with my husband.

• Out of the house: Offer to take all the kids to the park or walk around the neighborhood.
  
• Date night or day: Watch the kids for a few hours so the parents can go out. If bedtime is tough (which it often is), offer to come during naptime or early evening. Bring some pizzas and let the parents sneak out for sushi.
  
  
  

2) Food
One of my favorite gifts was getting a break from planning, shopping, and cooking.

• Dinners: Find out which day visits happen and bring a meal. Stock the freezer with some easy dinners or drop off gift cards for pizza or Chick-fil-A for the rough days.
  
• Snacks & Surprises: Bring a snack basket with art activities for the kids (nothing too messy!). Bonus points if you include something for the parents, too.
  
  

3) Daily Tasks
When we had eight kids at once, even a quick diaper run felt impossible.

• Errands: Offer to grab a few things from the store, drop off a return, or pick up a child from school or sports.
  
• Laundry: I was always embarrassed by the mountain of clothes and the chaos in our laundry room. But I know many other foster moms who found huge relief in letting someone help wash, fold, and even put away laundry.
  
  

4) Checking In
Some nights, I would sit for hours trying to get three little ones to sleep.

• Text: Set a reminder to check in on visit days, around bedtime, or just occasionally. A simple message like “I think it’s bedtime at your house, and I’m praying for you tonight” can mean the world.
  
• Treats: Drop off a favorite Starbucks drink or Mad Greens salad. Leave a small gift or a kind note on the porch.
  
  

Foster care is one of the most beautiful and challenging callings a family can step into, and it’s not something anyone can do alone. If you know a foster family, showing up in small ways can make a big difference. They may not always ask or know what to ask for, but your proactive support can lighten the load, encourage their hearts, and help them keep going.

By Jenny Watson, Director of Communication and Development