The Open Hearts, Open Purses women’s giving circle awarded a $10,000 grant to Turn Away No Longer, a faith-based organization that works to improve the lives of children in foster care.
Established in October 2020, Turn Away No Longer has helped thousands of children throughout Indiana who are in foster care or in the process of awaiting foster placement.
During their presentation, a Turn Away No Longer board member and former foster youth Becca Mattson said, “Imagine what it would be like to be in school as a teenager only thinking about the game Friday night. Suddenly, you are called to the office and your whole life changes when you find out you are going in to foster care.”
Being in foster care is a difficult process for any child to experience. Turn Away No Longer has numerous initiatives and volunteers to make this life-changing process easier and more comfortable for children.
The OHOP grant supported the opening of the Turn Away No Longer House, which will be a place for children undergoing foster care placement to stay while they wait for their foster family to transition them into safe shelter.
In addition, Turn Away No Longer operates Katie’s Boutique, a fully stocked, fully free store where foster care kids can shop for clothes, shoes, toiletries, and more. TANL’s website says, “By meeting practical needs in a fun and empowering way, Katie’s Boutique helps restore a sense of normalcy for kids and families.”