IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE

The CARE Closet and the Mosaic House are two of our initiatives for meeting the immediate needs of children, caregivers, and social workers impacted by the foster care system or those at risk of being impacted by the foster care system.

  • Children and teens often enter foster care with few or no belongings.

  • DSS caseworkers are overwhelmed with so many tasks when a child is taken into care. 

  • There is a high turnover rate among social workers.

  • The day a child enters care can create secondary trauma for kids/teens and social workers.

  • There are times foster care could be prevented, but due to the lack of resources, that does not happen.

The Problems

CARE Closet

The Foster Closet is where we collect items for our First Response Care Packages. When a child/teen first enters foster care, often they arrive with few items or simply the clothes on their back. In the midst of trying to make this child/teen feel safe, the task of getting basic necessities is pressing. The first week—specifically the first 24-48 hours—of a new foster placement is the most trying for foster children, social workers and the new caregivers. Mosaic Hope wants to ease the burden for everyone involved during this vulnerable time period. Within 24-48 hours of a new foster placement, Mosaic Hope will deliver practical necessities and comforting support.

What is in a first response package?

  • Clothing and pajamas for the child 

  • Socks and Underwear

  • Age-appropriate hygiene and toiletry items, such as toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, shampoo, body wash, lotion, etc. 

  • Diapers, formula, wipes, bottles, and anything necessary for an infant 

  • A meal or a gift card for a meal 

  • A personal note of encouragement 

*Please check our Amazon Wish List for our most pressing needs. We also post needs on our social media accounts.

 FAQs

  • Yes! We ONLY accept new clothing and items, with tags on them. We believe that children and families we serve deserve the best. Please note that we have limited storage. We have a network of organizations serving families in our county that we will share items with, so please keep this in mind when you donate. We have a running list of needs on our Amazon Wish List. Donations can be dropped off at the Foster Care Closet on our Drop Off Days. Please follow us on social media or contact us for the Drop Off Day schedule.

  • Temporarily, our Foster Closet is located at the House of Dreams on the campus of 2nd Baptist Church:

    191 Green Street Rutherfordton, NC 28139

  • That would be incredible! If your church, business, school or organization would like to hold a collection drive, we ask that you please contact Emily Wood (emily@mosaichope.org/828-429-3202) for our biggest needs prior to launching your drive please.

Mosaic House Update

We’re thrilled to share an important update in the journey of the Mosaic House! What began as a long-shot dream has become a powerful testimony of faith, community, and God's provision.

When Mosaic Hope was just getting started, the five-acre property near DSS seemed out of reach. But through prayer and an incredible response from this community—we raised the full purchase amount in just three months. We officially closed on the property in February 2024, far ahead of what we ever imagined.

As we prepared to renovate the existing house, we ran into a few challenges—unexpected structural issues, delays with insurance, and even Hurricane Helene. After thorough evaluation and wise counsel, our team made the difficult but exciting decision: instead of renovating, we’ll build a brand-new Mosaic House from the ground up.

Another contributing factor to our decision included a change in the mission of our house. Since Mosaic Hope launched, our county now has options for housing children who are awaiting placement. DSS secured a grant from Dogwood and built a house on their property; and Faithway Ministries began partnering with DSS to make their mission house available. Knowing that kids are no longer having to sleep in the DSS conference room, we feel we can now fill a different and vital role: walking alongside the foster care system by offering hands-on programs that serve families in every season - preventing crisis, intervening with compassion and supporting restoration and healing. with in the spaces of Prevention, Intervention, and 

This new facility will be purposefully designed to meet the unique needs of the children, families, and professionals we serve. It will not provide overnight stays, but it WILL serve as the first stop for children entering care; a gathering space for respite events, classes; support groups and TBRI® trainings; and a hub of trauma-informed resources. 

Thanks to a project with Leadership Rutherford, our CARE Closet is going to become a “boutique” for kids/teens and it will be right behind the house - creating seamless access to clothes and essentials for children in crisis.

At Mosaic Hope, we believe every child and family is part of God’s bigger story of redemption. That’s why our goal is to build programs that meet people right where they are—whether it’s wrapping around a family to prevent crisis, stepping in during moments of emergency, or walking with them on the long road toward healing. From prevention to intervention to restoration, we’re committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus in every chapter.

We know this journey has had twists and turns, but we believe more than ever that God is building something BIGGER  than we imagined. As we move forward with construction, we invite you to keep praying, giving, and dreaming with us.

This house belongs to our community, and we can’t wait to open its doors—together.

We envision a comfortable, safe and home-like environment where…

  • social workers could bring a child during initial placement

  • kids can play, have a snack with the staff, and pick out the things they need

  • new caregivers can learn about the resources in Rutherford County

  • children and families can process the overwhelming feelings and emotions that come with foster care

  • we could host support groups, classes, and events for children and for caregivers

How Can You Help?

The Mosaic House is a BIG dream and we still need the help of our community to make it happen.If you would like to donate to our house fund or if you would like to become a monthly donor, please use the QR code to donate, or text AHOUSE to 53-555.