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June came across Foster Hope when one of her sisters started fostering, and she realised how many children arrive in care with so little. It really pulled at her heartstrings and she’s excited to be involved. She has seen first-hand how much of a difference the backpacks make, and also the pyjamas! She is the Operations Manager for Neos Systems, an IT company in Lower Hutt, and also has two young children, Lily and Luke.

In any downtime, she enjoys learning to sail and spending quality time with her family and friends.

The Wellington branch covers the Lower North Island which includes New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay, and all the way up to Gisborne.

Hi, my name is Debbie, I live in the beautiful Bay of Islands with my husband and three wonderful children.

After an awareness campaign for a separate charity left me with 100’s of teddies, I set out to find them a new home.   I stumbled across Foster Hope’s website and was immediately enamoured by the work that they do.  That is where my journey began! I joined Foster Hope in July 2012 and I became their Treasurer the following year.

I quickly realised how many children in Northland needed our help.  Working with this charity is incredibly rewarding and I am humbled and grateful every day at the opportunity to be a part of this amazing organisation.

As Paul Spear Shane said “as one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person”.

To follow us on our Northland Facebook page, please click on the Facebook logo.

Hi, I am the Auckland Co-ordinator as well as the Chairperson of Foster Hope which I started in 2010. I grew up in South Africa where my mum taught me the importance of helping others less fortunate.

When I found out about how some children arrive in foster care with only the clothes on their backs, I joined a friend to make up our first “Bears 2 Care” and then “Kits 2 Kids”. Since then, life certainly has been busy as I have 2 children, two very different businesses and have my fingers in a few more pies from Beanies for Africa to running a Community Market.

I love the difference that we’re making to so many vulnerable children. Starting Foster Hope has given me the opportunity to meet and learn from some awe-inspiring volunteers and social workers from all over the country.

You may never know the difference you personally make to a child, but I know that we are making ripples with the work we’re doing.

Louise is based in Auckland, so we are supporting the Waikato region by working with a local charity called ‘Kids in Need’, Waikato.  They support children in care by making up a ‘made for the child’s backpack and distributing them locally at the requests of agencies.  Linda is doing amazing work within the region, and we feel it would benefit both of our charities to work alongside each other.

All Physical Donations

If you would like to donate any physical items to children in care then please send them to Kids in Need, at 118 Fencourt Road, Cambridge 3496, from Monday through to Friday 9.30 am – 12.30 pm, at any other times please call 027 502 3891 to arrange a drop-off time.

All Monetary Donations

If you would like to support Foster Hope Waikato with a monetary donation, then feel free to pop over to our Donate Now page and we will ensure that all donations deposited within the region are spent supporting children in care in Waikato.

To follow us on our Waikato/Bay of Plenty Facebook page, please click on the Facebook logo.

June came across Foster Hope when one of her sisters started fostering, and she realised how many children arrive in care with so little. It really pulled at her heartstrings and she’s excited to be involved. She has seen first-hand how much of a difference the backpacks make, and also the pyjamas!

She is the Operations Manager for Neos Systems, an IT company in Lower Hutt, and also has two young children, Lily and Luke.  In any downtime, she enjoys learning to sail and spending quality time with her family and friends.

The Wellington branch covers the Lower North Island which includes New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay, and all the way up to Gisborne.

June came across Foster Hope when one of her sisters started fostering, and she realised how many children arrive in care with so little. It really pulled at her heartstrings and she’s excited to be involved. She has seen first-hand how much of a difference the backpacks make, and also the pyjamas!

She is the Operations Manager for Neos Systems, an IT company in Lower Hutt, and also has two young children, Lily and Luke.  In any downtime, she enjoys learning to sail and spending quality time with her family and friends.

The Wellington branch covers the Lower North Island which includes New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay, and all the way up to Gisborne.

June came across Foster Hope when one of her sisters started fostering, and she realised how many children arrive in care with so little. It really pulled at her heartstrings and she’s excited to be involved. She has seen first-hand how much of a difference the backpacks make, and also the pyjamas!

She is the Operations Manager for Neos Systems, an IT company in Lower Hutt, and also has two young children, Lily and Luke.  In any downtime, she enjoys learning to sail and spending quality time with her family and friends.

The Wellington branch covers the Lower North Island which includes New Plymouth and Hawkes Bay, and all the way up to Gisborne.

I have always loved children so after obtaining my diploma of teaching (ECE) I worked as a preschool teacher for 14 years.  During this time, I became a foster parent doing all types of care.  I have been fostering now for 25 years.

I have four amazing, smart and funny children, two girls and two boys, three of whom came to me through foster care.

I have known about Foster Hope for some time and love what they do, I jumped at the chance to do my part when the position in Marlborough came up and I started as the coordinator for Foster Hope Marlborough in September 2017.

To follow us on our Marlborough Facebook page, please click on the Facebook logo.

Our West Coast branch has come full circle and is currently being run from Christchurch. We have had incredible local support and continue to have a few local drop-offs for our PJ and Christmas drives only.
Please check with the Christchurch branch for general questions and enquiries. Regular drop-offs are happening to OT Greymouth, and we continue to work with Bev at Homebuilders. To follow us on our West Coast Facebook page, please click on the Facebook logo.

I’ve been involved with Foster Hope almost since the beginning. Inspired by the idea that Sam and Louise shared on Facebook I innocently took on the South Island as they told me “it would take about an hour a week” now I just do Christchurch and the West Coast and it takes a bit longer than that!

My background is in teaching, child psychology and development. I’m now technically retired and a busy Grandma. Foster Hope is my main activity for the week along with learning Te Reo Māori which brings me great joy!

One of the big challenges in Christchurch has been the ongoing quakes but this also increased our support and made us better at linking up with other groups and sharing resources. I would say that the best part of being involved in Foster Hope is seeing how even a small item like a toothbrush can make a huge difference to a child.

“Don’t donate money or buy us items, until you’ve shopped your home and passed on as new items or re-gifted that you don’t need as it’s better for the planet!”