Fostering Hope promotes reuse and recycling by providing a convenient way for families to donate their children’s items:

  • the Community donates new and pre-loved children’s items

  • Volunteers process and safety-check donations

  • Carers shop for items the children need, while other items are distributed to regional communities and partner charities. Larger items are often donated again, continuing the cycle of reuse.

It all began with an idea…

Fostering Hope started when a friend offered Lorraine and Linzi a donation for their foster children. Whilst they couldn’t make use of the donation, they knew plenty of other carers who could. An idea to create a donation distribution network quickly became a reality. Friends and community members wanted to donate their children’s items—many of which were barely used.

Lorraine and Linzi opened their home to donations and became a drop-off point and distributor. Quickly outgrowing their lounge room, house and then storage unit, they opened the first shop in 2016. Fostering Hope now has a network of more than 60 drop off points and 16,000 Facebook group members.

Linzi and Lorraine setting up one of the first shops and moving out of their lounge room!

James & Stacy’s story

“As foster carers, we find Fostering Hope is a bright light in what can be a heart-breaking world. The community of foster carers and volunteers there is amazing. When you feel like giving up, there is always someone there to cheer you on.

Our family look forward to coming into the shop to choose new clothes and toys."

Carer & Volunteer stories

“I’m an emergency carer, and often have children arrive on my doorstep with nothing but the clothes on their back. These precious angels need essential items like clothes and bottles, but also some peace and time to begin recovering.

In those first few traumatic days, the last thing children in care need, is to be traipsed around a shopping centre. Sometimes I have to call ahead and the volunteers at Fostering Hope will have collected all I need, ready for me to pick up."
– Foster Carer –