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Foster Closet: The Faith to Provide
When John and Tammy McGuire welcomed their first foster children at the beginning of 2005—a newborn boy and his 13-month-old brother—they found themselves scrambling to prepare for the boys’ arrival with less than 48 hours’ notice. The McGuires needed everything—from clothes and a crib to a high chair and double stroller—and they were surprised to discover there was no equipment available to foster families who need to care for babies, children and teenagers that come into their homes at a moment’s notice.
When the boys were adopted, Tammy was inspired to create a resource to help other foster families prepare their households. Knowing that there is a need to help other foster families better their environments for children in their care, she began her work. To this end, the McGuires created Foster Closet and began soliciting donations from the community at large, including friends, family, neighbors and members of their church. Today, largely through the generous donations of Tots-to-Teens Consignment in Jacksonville, Foster Closet is up and running.
Foster Closet offers an abundant inventory of items to Florida Baptist Children’s Home, to foster children in northeast Florida and to grandparents raising grandchildren. The McGuires are grateful to the outpouring of community support they have enjoyed, and they’re even more grateful to be able to fulfill a spiritual mission they hold close to their hearts: “to look after the orphans.” (James 1:27)