Because Beloved has no administrative overhead, you can be confident that every dollar that you donate goes directly to serving and supporting kids in crisis. Below is a list of some of the ways that we use donor funds to impact lives by affirming the dignity of every precious child. Whether you offer a one-time donation or recurring support, Beloved will make the most of your contribution in our efforts to support vulnerable kids entering kinship or foster care.
Beloved Bags
$85
Consider a monthly sponsorship of this important care item for kids on the difficult day of disruption.
The Beloved Bag is the primary vehicle offered by Beloved to convey the message of dignity and worth to kids in crisis. When children are removed from a dangerous circumstance, they often come into the care of social services with no personal belongings. When they do assemble items to retain, they are traditionally provided with a garbage bag in which they carry their few possessions to the foster or transitional care home. Unfortunately, many children in foster care identify that garbage bag as a symbol of their feelings of worthlessness, describing disruption as the moment they were “thrown away” or the moment they knew they were “trash.” By replacing that garbage bag with a new, high-quality duffle bag, we replace that lie of worthlessness with the truth that every child is valuable and Beloved. Beloved Bags contain the following gender-neutral items:
Teen Bag
(Ages 10-18)
Child Bag
(Ages 3-9)
Infant Bag
(Ages 0-3)
Each bag also contains a hand-written card with the message:
Dear Friend,
This bag and everything inside of it belongs to you. We pray that you are safe, protected, and that you know that you are not alone.
Your Friends at Beloved
Teen Bag
(Age 10 - 18)
Drawstring Backpack Toiletry Kit Including: Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hairbrush, Loofah, Washcloth, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant
Blanket
Journal
Pens
Fidget Item
A Teen-Friendly Book
Flashlight
A laundry bag
Child Bag
(Age 3 - 9)
Drawstring Backpack Toiletry Kit Including: Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hairbrush, Loofah Puff, Washcloth, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
Blanket
Coloring Book
Crayons
Pencil Pouch
Colored Pencils
Stuffed Animal
Picture Book
Chapter Book
Flashlight
Laundry Bag
Infant Bag
(Age 0 - 2)
Drawstring Backpack Toiletry Kit Including: Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Hairbrush, Loofah Puff, Washcloth, Toothbrush, Toothpaste
Blanket
Coloring Book
Crayons
Stuffed Animal
Pacifier
Rattle
Wipes
Board Book
$60Multicultural Hair Care Kits
While hygiene is an important component of dignity for all children, the particular personal care needs of black and multi-racial kids require specific tools and supplies. In order to ensure that displaced and vulnerable children with a variety of needs have the supplies necessary for maintaining healthy and culturally relevant hygiene, Beloved has created multicultural care kits. These kits include affordable, readily-available supplies along with an instructional guide to support children and caregivers who may not have received instruction or mentorship in appropriate hair and skin care, Social workers and case representatives in Bartholomew and surrounding counties will determine the most appropriate method of distribution, making certain that children who would most benefit from the kits will be fully equipped for self-care that affirms their inherent dignity and inestimable worth.
Multicultural Hair Care Kits
$60
Washable Cloth Bag
Shampoo - Olive Oil (ORS), Conditioner - Olive Oil (ORS), Leave-in Cream - Aunt Jackie’s, Gel - Eco Styler, Spray - Cream of Nature, Scalp oil - SBN Hair Love, Sealing Oil - Via Naturals, Elastics, Sleep Cap, Do Rag, Comb - Wide Tooth, Brush - Wet Magic, Lotion - Shea butter/Cocoa Butter
Washable Cloth Bag
Shampoo - Olive Oil (ORS)
Conditioner - Olive Oil (ORS)
Leave-in Cream - Aunt Jackie’s
Gel - Eco Styler
Spray - Cream of Nature
Scalp oil - SBN Hair Love
Sealing Oil - Via Naturals
Sleep Cap
Do Rag
Comb - Wide Tooth
Brush - Wet Magic
Lotion - Shea butter/Cocoa Butter
Birthday Celebration Kits
$30
We believe that every child is worth celebrating! To help equip social workers to support families in providing that celebration during times of crisis and transition, Beloved offers Birthday Celebration Kits. Each celebration kit includes:
A cake mix
A can of soda (which replaces eggs, oil, and milk, so that no additional items are needed to make the cake)
A can of frosting
Party plates
Plastic forks
Fun napkins
Candles
A birthday banner
A blank birthday card (to be filled out by a caregiver)
A disposable cake pan
Feminine Hygiene Kits
$55
Cosmetic bag
Menstrual pads
Panty liners
Hygienic cleansing wipes
Lip balm
Lip Gloss
Small Deodorant
Hair ties
Hand lotion
Make-up Remover Wipes
$6,000-$10,000Playroom Renovations
Because we are a small, agile organization, we are often able to tackle projects very quickly and accomplish goals efficiently. In 2022, we received requests from Bartholomew County and Jackson County DCS offices to remodel their playroom spaces. Playrooms at DCS offices are utilized for triage of displaced children during the hours that a social worker spends securing a safe foster or kinship care home. It also hosts supervised visits for separated family members. The conditions of these rooms, where children often spent hours or even days during traumatic transitions called for our immediate action.
Playroom Renovations
$6,000-$10,000
Because we are a small, agile organization, we are often able to tackle projects very quickly and accomplish goals efficiently. In 2022, we received requests from Bartholomew County and Jackson County DCS offices to remodel their playroom spaces. Playrooms at DCS offices are utilized for triage of displaced children during the hours that a social worker spends securing a safe foster or kinship care home. It also hosts supervised visits for separated family members. The conditions of these rooms, where children often spent hours or even days during traumatic transitions called for our immediate action.
These are some before and after examples of the playroom renovations at DCS offices around the state, renovations that already impact the lives of kids and relationships to caregivers.