EMMAUS, Pa. — Giving back to families who are giving a home to children who need one is the very heartbeat of The Kindness Project.
- Originally starting in Emmaus, the Kindness Project now opens its second location called the Kindness Cottage in Stroudsburg
- The Kindness Project is majorly run by volunteers and has offered free clothing, shoes, school supplies, beds and more to foster family
- The nonprofit is getting ready for its holiday collection and will guarantee the children at least one gift they want
The Lehigh Valley nonprofit recently opened a second location in the Poconos.
“It has allowed me to take in more children,” Maria Bermudez of Bethlehem said.
Bermudez currently houses six children in the fostering system and has cared for countless others over the years.
For five years, The Kindness Project has offered free clothing, shoes, school supplies, beds and other necessities to families who foster.
“Just knowing that I have the backup of the Kindness Exchange, that they’re able to provide the smallest things, like a baby bottle or a can of formula or even when they come in just in a diaper and they're able to provide the clothing, pajamas, diapers, anything that a child would need,” Bermudez said.
She became a foster parent when she and her husband became empty-nesters.
Second location
The project started in Emmaus where the home base is referred to as the Kindness Exchange. Now, a second location called the Kindness Cottage is open in Stroudsburg.
“It's quite an expense to bring another person into your home, so we felt it was necessary to create a program that could provide resources and supplement some of the expenses for families.“Jenae Holtzhafer, founder & executive director of The Kindness Project
Founder Jenae Holtzhafer started the non-profit when her family decided to look into foster care. Instead, they saw a need for supplies for these children and opened a free shop for families taking in kids in the system.
“It's quite an expense to bring another person into your home," she said. "So we felt it was necessary to create a program that could provide resources and supplement some of the expenses for families.“
In October, Holtzhafer registered more than 30 new children at the shop. She said she always sees the need go up this time of year, but more now since the coronavirus pandemic.
“There's a lot of kids entering foster care, which is sad, but we're happy that we're here able to support those families," she said. "We're hoping we can get more families involved to step up to foster."
Run by volunteers
The Kindness Project is mostly run by volunteers who re-stock clothing and sort through donated items.
Lindsey Diesel drives from Wyomissing, in Berks County, to donate her time to the cause.
“Growing up, my family was a foster family," Diesel said. "So it holds a special place in my heart.
"So I was just trying to figure out a way to give back and then I found the Kindness Project. So I started off as a volunteer.”
Diesel, a nursing student, has since taken a role as Holtzhafer’s assistant for a few hours a week.
Preparing for holidays
Along with the influx of children in the foster care system coming through its doors, the charity now is getting ready for its holiday collection.
Holtzhafer has the children pick a few holiday gifts that the community then can buy for the families.
“We actually let them fill out a Google form, or the parents do, have a few specific gifts they really, really want, wishes they really would love to see fulfilled," she said.
"And then we create our own Amazon wish list based off of their specific wants and wishes.”
She explained that ensures the children get at least one item they really want.
All of the items available to the foster families are collected through donations.
“We'll be switching out our Halloween costumes for winter gear,” Holtzhafer said.
The Kindness Project offers larger items, too, such as beds, car seats, all the baby equipment that comes with a baby, and everything a parent most likely would get in a baby shower.
