Fostering Mission Valley Families receives $10,000 grant from Gianforte Family Foundation

Fostering Mission Valley Families announced it received a $10,000 grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation in a press release on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

The press release stated that this “critical funding” will expand localized support for foster, adoptive and kinship households across Lake County and the Flathead Indian Reservation. To celebrate this award, FMVF will host an open house on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at their new location at 1102 4th Ave. East in Polson. 

“Expanding caregiver relief caring for children who have experienced trauma requires immense dedication, and caregiver burnout remains one of the greatest threats to stable foster placement,” the press release stated. 

From this grant, $7,000 will be used for respite care funding, which is a resource that provides trusted and qualified care providers to give local parents and caregivers necessary breaks. This funding will also be used to support the emotional and educational needs of local foster families through a partnership with Child Bridge. 

Child Bridge offers retreats and support groups for caregivers. They also have a network of trusted caregivers and cover all childcare expenses so parents can recharge and learn. 

FMVF has also used the remaining $3,000 of this grant to transform their foster closet space in its new building. These clothes are for children entering emergency foster care who only arrive with what they are wearing. 

The Gianforte Family Foundation grant funded the installation of updated shelving, efficient organization, and an expanded inventory of brand-new essentials. The press release stated that the upgraded closet ensures that children immediately receive high-quality clothing, shoes, diapers, pajamas and comfort items in a warm, welcoming and organized environment. 

The expanded closet allows volunteers and social workers to quickly find the correct size, needed item and choose the blanket, backpack or age-appropriate hygiene kit for the child they are placing in a new home.

"Moving to our new location has given us the space we need to continue expanding our boutique and kid thrift clothing outreach, and we now have a huge space dedicated specifically to our foster closet,” FMVF Executive Director, Annette Schiele, stated in the press release.

This grant funding allowed them to upgrade from a three-by-three-foot closet to a well-organized seven-by-11-foot room with space to move, sort and pack essentials. 

“The social workers have been amazed and so appreciative of being able to find what a child needs from our updated closet,” Schiele added.