About Us
Columbia Foster & Adoption Project offers support to the foster and adoptive community by providing tangible items and supplies for the children of these homes. We host social events to create community building opportunities and to recognize the hard work it takes to stand in the gap. Find out more about our programs below.
Mission Statement
The mission of Columbia Foster and Adoption Project is to support and equip families in the Columbia, Missouri area through the various stages of foster care and adoption.
Annual Projects
Halloween @ Boo!ne Health
In 2023 Boone Health Meet the Mission Team hosted an amazing event in partnership with Columbia Foster and Adoption Project. Each child registered was able to submit a Halloween costume wishlist. Staff and community members purchased and donated toward ensuring every child in attendance left with a bag full of goodies and a new costume from their wishlist. Staff from Boone Health decorated and dressed up for a morning of games and goodies. The Halloween Boontacular provides and opportunity for community building and connection. In addition, this event is an opportunity to reduce holiday stress and financial burden on foster and adoptive families. In 2023, 119 costumes were provided.
Want to support Trick-or-Treat fun in 2024?
Donate and we will shop for you or select a costume wishlist, shop and return costumes to Boone Health by Oct 11.
Registration for this event is now closed.
It Takes A Village
Community members are always asking how they can help! This year we have a new opportunity for individuals, team building and businesses.
Host a decorating party, have your business be represented in our display while showing Foster and Adoptive Families that there are people surrounding them with care and compassion!
We can provide houses to be decorated or create your own.
Happy Haunting! info@fosterandadoptionproject.org
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree is a program organized each year by Columbia Foster and Adoption Project in Coordination with Great Circle, Cornerstones of Care, Missouri Alliance for Children and Boone and Callaway counties Children’s Division. Foster parents assist the children in filling out Christmas wish lists that residents of the community sponsor to purchase. Wish lists can be sponsored from our website or picked up from The Columbia Mall booth directly. We collect the gifts once purchased and ensure every child receives their presents before Christmas. Gifts were provided for 331 children in 2023.
iBelong Baskets
Initially entering foster care is one of the most traumatic things a child and their family can face. At a moment’s notice they are asked to pack what belongings they can, if any, and oftentimes don’t even fully understand why they can no longer be with their family. Many of these children have been exposed to things beyond their years. An iBelong Basket is a basket with a purpose to provide comfort to children as they enter the foster care system and to provide important and necessary supplies to support the foster parent or relative caregiver who will be providing for that child. These help ease what is often a scary transition. These baskets all stay in our community or surrounding counties, so you can assure your donation supports a local child and their caregiver. In 2023 we delivered 370 baskets!
Summer Swim
In July we host our annual swim social at Albert-Oakland pool. Families are invited for a fun night of swimming, giveaways and community while being served dinner donated from local sponsors. This night is a way for local foster and adoptive families to connect and unwind while enjoying time with the children in their home. In 2024 we served 33 families for a total of 164 people!
-
Volunteer Opportunities
Board of Directors
This team and those who have served before them have created sustainable resources for foster and adoptive families in our community and surrounding counties. Volunteers work tirelessly and are dedicated to maintaining current programs. Our team focuses on helping provide resources and support intentionally, where families and children feel welcome, loved and taken care of.