Meet Tiffany Birdsong of Fostering Faith Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Birdsong. 

Hi Tiffany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
6 years ago, my daughter and I hosted an event where we collected over 3000 items of necessity for children in foster care for a local agency that does go bags for kids in care. We had given them a considerable amount of hygiene items, and when asked where the surplus went, they told us mostly to the kids in care at Christmas. It didn’t really sit right with me that kids going through a traumatic situation got hygiene items for Christmas. When the Founder of that organization ended our trip with the question, “What are you doing to make the world a better place,” I couldn’t answer it. I left in tears and in a way feeling selfish for all my family had. So that next week, I collected monetary donations and went out to Michaels on Black Friday (which I never do) and got material to sew and make blankets with bible verses and quotes on them to give to the children. While in the store, the manager found out what I was doing, stopped the store in their tracks, and announced it over the loudspeaker. I left that store in tears not paying a dime due to the generous contributions of people in the store that day. That is when I knew that something special was about to happen with the work I was beginning to do. The kids in the group home that first year received my blankets, donated knitted hats, candy, and beanie babies. It was an amazing Christmas. But it wouldn’t be my last. The next year, I wanted to do more, so I called the local group home and asked for the children’s Christmas lists. At first, she thought I was kidding when I asked for them all. After I got them, I started reaching out to members of the community. Within two weeks, I had half the list filled. By the first week of December, my husband and I only needed to fill 8 of the kids’ wishes. After that year, Fostering Faith Foundation was established, and we are now entering our 4th year as a 501(c)(3) all on private donations so far. 2021 we served 175 children in care for Christmas. 2022 we served 300 children in care over 9 counties around the State of North Carolina for Christmas and on average 20-40 children a month with needed new necessities donated by members and business state and countrywide (a few out of Canada and Europe as well). We continue to grow and can’t wait to see where this year is going to take us! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. As we are finally in our 4th year as a 501(c)(3), we are just now getting to the point where we are Grant eligible and able to show what we have done and been able to do with what we have received. We have depended on the generosity of private donors, and there are some months that we weren’t sure we would have what we needed. As the Founder, I still have yet to take home a paycheck, as everything I have earned has gone straight back into the non-profit and the children in care. We have so many Kinship, Permanent Placements, Foster Families, and Group Homes that count on us, and I will NEVER let a child go without needs that asks for our help. Even if it has to come out of my own pocket to do so. These are incredible children that never asked for their situations but are being strong and trying to work through the trauma and difficulties of their situations to have hope and dreams. The least we can do is show them their community cares, even if we struggle ourself. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Fostering Faith Foundation grants the Christmas Wishes of children in the foster care system; while providing needed aid, resources, and community outreach to foster children, foster families, kinship families, group homes, and those who have aged out throughout the year. 

Serving One Child At A Time: Our vision is to serve every foster child, kinship child, permanent placements, and their caregivers that comes through our doors with hope, healing, and unconditional love. How do we do that? By serving one child at a time with the necessities needed throughout their transition into care. Our staff and volunteers bring smiles and love while providing children in care with new clean clothes, toys, therapy aids, and snuggly items throughout the year. We also strive to serve those who have aged out with needed assistance. There are not a ton of resource centers in the state, and we are proud to solve multiple counties. We have a non-perishable food pantry that serves all our families and our aged-out youth, clothes and shoes ranging from Preemie to 4XL (All New). New Toys, games, jewelry, makeup, hygiene items, and household/room décor, therapeutic bunnies (that can be warmed and provide the scent of calming lavender, and an area dedicated to art therapy and journaling. We also have new beds, cribs, mattresses, sheets, pillows, car seats/boosters, and bikes off-site that are available to any of our families/kids in need. 

Once Mid-October arrives, Mrs. Claus and her community of elves begin their journey of spreading Christmas Joy throughout North Carolina to children in group homes, with foster family placements, kingship, and permanent placement by granting their holiday wishes, one child at a time. These are things that each child is interested in verses something off a generic list. We want them to feel special and loved and that someone cares for them. This is just one way that we do that. 

All of this is done at no charge for our families, group homes, friends in care, and our friends aging/aged out. 

“Believe that what you do matters and will make a difference in people’s lives. You don’t have to save the world in one stroke, but you can make a difference one person at a time.” Anonymous 

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
We could not do this without the support of our private donors, family, friends, board members, volunteers, business, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce, our landlord Ed Broyhill, Kristen Johnson, and the entire Broyhill staff and other business tenants, our amazing Mayor Mike Rogers and so many others. Many of these people have been with us from the beginning, while others have been with us as we continue to grow. Our growth is due to these folks and their constant love and support. 

It takes a village to do what we do, and we can’t thank them enough for supporting our mission and all that we do. To know that our friends in foster care have the love and support of the community is one of the greatest feelings; we want them to know they are not alone and they will always have someone in their corner. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fosteringfaithfoundation.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fosteringfaithfoundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fosteringfaithfoundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fostering-faith-foundation/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FosterFaithFoun 

Image Credits
Founder Tiffany Birdsong