Programs:

SHARE THE MUSIC:

Share the Music is a cooperative effort sponsored by Caring About Kids, Inc and Marshall Music of Lansing.  You can contribute by donating a musical instrument, so that a foster child can become part of a music program.

Share the Music!  Donate your used musical instrument to a deserving area child. You will get the satisfaction of knowing your gift is helping a special young person develop a life long talent.

That old flute, saxophone, or violin that is collecting dust in your attic could be placed in the hands of a young person who otherwise might never know the joy of making music.

Take your instrument to Marshall Music in Frandor, 3240 E. Saginaw, Lansing.  Marshall Music will appraise, clean and ready the instrument for a foster child. In return, you will receive a tax deduction equal to the value of your gift. 

Questions: contact us at 517-485-2646 or click here to send an email.

ADVENTURES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN:

Caring About Kids, Inc provides special events for foster children and their families so that foster children can have good memories to share and remember.

A series of events are planned in the spring to herald the Month of the Foster child in May. In 2009, the events included a trip to a science center, a day at the Potter Park Zoo and a day of bowling at a local bowling facility.  All events culminate with a “scrap book” party at which pictures and memories are captured in Memory Books for each child to keep.

In the summer, a day at the Water Park is scheduled to provide summer fun for foster families in Ingham County. For some families, this is their only “summer vacation”.

In December of each year, all Ingham County foster families and children are invited to attend a Holiday Party where dinner, cookie decorating and gifts are provided for each child in foster care.  This event is sponsored by Caring About Kids with assistance from the staff at Ingham County DHS, a local restaurant owner and private donations of gifts.

If you would like to sponsor one of our Foster family fun events, please call Melissa Threadgould at 517-485-2646 or click here to send an email.

THE WHITMER FAMILY FOUNDATION DONATION

Through the generous donation of $25,000 from the Whitmer Family Foundation, Caring About Kids was able to purchase clothing for our foster children who are in placements where funding for clothing allowances is not available.  These children live primarily in Kinship Care.  The Meijer Corporation helped us stretch those dollars even farther to $26,000.  With gift cards, Caring About Kids was able to provide money for clothing purchases for children who came into care who had no access to either state or federal assistance.

A SPECIAL REWARD FOR A SPECIAL FOSTER CHILD

In years past, Caring About Kids has given foster children some fun memories. Whether it was a week at Camp Care-A-Lot with their siblings, an outing at Michigan Adventure, a trip to Cedar Point with their foster or kinship family, or the weekend events in the spring, we have tried to make a difference in their lives.

And now we want to do something really special that would make a big difference in the life of a foster child.

Do you know a child who deserves to be recognized?  Would a weekend retreat with the child’s foster or kinship family delight that extraordinary child? 

Nominate a foster child for that “really special something” to create a lasting memory for that child.  Click here to fill out a nomination form.  Send the completed form to Caring About Kids, Inc, PO Box 27014, Lansing, MI 48909-7014.

Shop ‘Til You Drop Program

Each year the Junior League of Lansing participates in the “Shop ‘til you Drop” program funded by Caring About Kids.  In the fall of each year, Junior League members come together with lists compiled by DHS to shop for Christmas gifts for all children in foster care.  Each child receives one gift that he or she “asked” for from the list.  In 2008, over 1500 gifts were delivered to the offices of DHS to be distributed by the caseworkers to the foster children of Ingham County.  It is through partnerships such as this one that allows Caring About Kids to meet its mission each year – something special for a foster child in Ingham County.