A Summer Update from Hearts to Homes

Your support is changing MORE lives than EVER!

Hello Mary Theresa,

As we continue our mission of furnishing apartments for young adults aging out of the foster care system, your support has made a world of difference.

In the last three months, we have seen unprecedented demand for our services! Thankfully, this has been matched by the generosity of our donors, which is why we can report that we recently reached over 700 young adults served! This equates to over $1,500,000 in essential home furnishings provided. The transition from foster care to first home is challenging, and your support has removed the obstacle of being able to afford the furniture, appliances, and essentials needed for a comfortable and functional new home. Thank you!

Our Second Set of Siblings!

We recently furnished an apartment for a pair of sisters who aged out of foster care together! What's better than getting help with furnishing your new apartment? It has to be having your sister by your side! This is the second set of siblings that our donors have helped to furnish! Beyond thanking our donors for making this happen, there's only one thing left to say: WELCOME HOME!

Spring Events

Open Hearts

In April, we gathered at City Winery for cocktails, an auction and other fun games in support of Hearts to Homes. Together, we raised over $50,000, which helped us furnish 25 apartments for young adults aging out of foster care. See more photos from the event here.

Thank you to our guest speaker, Cheyanne Deopersaud, who spoke of her Hearts to Homes' experience when she aged out of foster care.

"Every meal that I prepare in my kitchen, every friend I welcome into this space, and every quiet night I spend studying in the serenity of my own room, are testaments to the incredible impact of your contributions. These moments of everyday joy, and the sanctuary I now call my own, are direct outcomes of the compassion and support extended by Hearts to Homes. Your dedication resonates within the walls of this house, turning it into a home where dreams are nurtured, and futures are built. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to embrace the security and peace of a place I can truly call mine."

Read Cheyanne's full speech here .

Kendra Scott Gives Back

Thanks to everyone who joined us in May for our event partnering with Kendra Scott. 20% of all sales proceeds were donated to Hearts to Homes, raising over $1,100, which will furnish a living room for one young adult.

Caring Hearts at Cold Spring

Earlier this month, we were able to raise over $36,000 at our inaugural Caring Hearts at Cold Springs event. These funds will help us furnish 15 apartments! Thank you to our co-chairs, Jill and Dave Savetz and Maureen Noonan, all our event sponsors, attendees, raffle and auction donors and winners. Thank you also to Michael Bracken, Life Skills Coach Supervisor at MercyFirst, who shared his experiences working with youth referred to Hearts to Homes for assistance.

See more photos from the event here.

National Foster Care Month Campaign Success

At Hearts to Homes, we recognized National Foster Care Month with a month-long fundraiser to continue our mission. We are so grateful to our community and a matching gift from our Board, which helped us raise over $40,000 during National Foster Care Month. We are so appreciative of your support!

These funds will help us furnish 20 apartments for young adults aging out of foster care, allowing us to inspire confidence, security, and hope.

Sunday School Lessons in Action

The children of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Baldwin, NY recently put their lessons into action. They helped to collect over $300 and then worked together to determine how to best utilize their gift. Ultimately, it was decided that purchasing bedding, cookware, bathroom and dining bundles was the way they would like to make an impact. Their gift went directly to help a young mother in Queens who was moving into her first home with her young child.

Not Just a Number: Young Adults with Hopes and Dreams

By Caitlyn Martyn

For individuals in transition from foster care to independence, the future can seem unclear. With so many variables up in the air, a permanent home might feel like just another thing to worry about. But, thanks to the resources that Hearts to Homes provides, those aging out of foster care can feel supported, hopeful, and ready for a bright future ahead. As Devin Boney, a Housing Specialist with our referring partner The Jewish Board, recently said, “Hearts to Homes is not just an organization; it’s a beacon of hope, guiding individuals towards stability, dignity, and the chance to thrive.”

Once a permanent home is secured, hope is possible, and dreams don’t feel as far away. While aspirations differ from person to person, they drive us to keep going and urge us to reach for more. While it’s easy to get caught up in numbers—how many people have been helped and how many people have been referred to us, etc.—it’s important to remember that the young adults we help are real people with real hopes and dreams.

A dream, for example, “I want to attend college and major in Business. Afterward, I would like to start my own food truck,” might seem far-fetched without the right tools or support. But with a network of people ensuring you have the things you need, you are more likely to feel empowered to go out into the world and move one step closer to achieving that dream. So, in the case of this young person, who was recently assisted by Hearts to Homes, they’re able to expand on their cooking hobby now that they have their own kitchen and kitchen tools and can begin to think about how to take the necessary steps to achieve their dream of opening up a successful food truck.