*Eligibility varies depending on programming. Each program will specify eligibility requirements. Foster Pantry is NOT Need-Based, we will not ask you for your income. For Foster Closet & Assistance Requests, eligibility includes Licensed Foster Parents - we can assist ALL children under 18, in the home (including biological and adopted) with a child with an active CPS case of licensed foster homes Kinship/Relative Caregivers - we can assist all legal dependents, biological children under the age of 18 of DSS designated caregivers up to 6 months after foster care case is closed. Biological parents/legal guardians who care for children that have an active foster case/CPS case with the local DHHS - who have recently reunified or have other dependents in the home not in DHHS care - up to 6 months after foster care case is closed. In-Home Services - Caregivers receiving In-Home services (215) from DHHS, while there is an open In-Home Services Case. Aged Out / 18-21 Young Adults / LINKS youth with dependents can submit a 18-21 Assistance Request form for themselves and/or their dependent children. Aged out & Beyond - Young Adults 22+: youth who aged out of foster care and is 22 or older may submit a request and we will process them on a case-by-case bases and provide resource navigation to assist them with needs we cannot meet Foster Pantry can assist up to 6 months after case is closed or other means of permanency is obtained (adoption, guardianship, etc.). Social workers and Guardian ad Litem can also submit requests on behalf of their families/children - if you are a social worker or GAL submitting a request, we ask that you also consider other children living in the home. We primarily serve New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, Bladen, Columbus and Onslow Counties. Caregivers who reside in other counties may also submit requests and we will be happy to assist them if we are able to verify their placement with their agency. We are unable to deliver outside of our primary counties at this time but pick up can be arranged.

Our new placement bag is our foundation and primary program. We rely on community donations so that we can provide caregivers with the tangible items they need when they first welcome children into their home. These items can be anything from clothing, shoes, toiletries to toys, books and furnishings. Do not hesitate to ask for any and all items you need. We do our best to fulfill all requests, however it is subject to our current inventory which varies depending on donations received. We also partner with other community organizations in which we can refer caregivers to for items we are unable to assist with like furniture and beds. PLEASE NOTE: Our ability to assist depends on tangible donations provided by the community - we do not assist by providing financial support and do not have funds to provide specific items.

Currently requests can be submitted for all children who reside with you including bio and adopted children as the need arises. Priority will be given to foster children and new placements. We will fulfill recurring and seasonal requests based on the inventory we have at the time of the request.

All requests do require a recent verification of foster care/In Home Services case. Please be sure to provide one or more of the following so that we can quickly verify and process your request. >To expedite your request, you can also email us a copy of your placement letter to info@fosterpantry.org - if dated within the 12 months, we will not have to verify with DHHS OR >child's foster care/cps social worker or foster families licensing worker's - first and last name, office phone/work cell AND email address. This allows us to quickly contact the agency to verify if a placement letter is not available We will reach out to you if we have any questions or have any issues verifying your placement(s).

The items we provide for children in your care are for the children to keep until they no longer have a need for them. Should the child move homes or reunite with parents/family we expect that ALL items go with the children. This includes, but is not limited to car seats, clothing, toys, furnishings. If the child no longer needs the items due to "growing out" of them, they can be returned to the Foster Pantry or may be passed along to another family in need. Please consider returning larger items such as cribs, toddler beds, strollers, car seats that are no longer needed so that they are available for another foster family. LOANED ITEMS: There will be an exception in some cases where we loan items out with the expectation they are returned within a certain time period. For example, when available we loan out Mamaroos for newborn NAS babies with the expectation they will be returned when child out grows it at 6 months or if the child is moved to a new home.

At this time we are unable to assist foster parents prepare for future placements so that we can be sure to have items readily available for children when they actually come into care. However we can provide you with advice and other resources that may be able to assist depending on your need.

As with all items, gift cards are subject to availability at the time of the request. Gift cards are reserved for youth ages 14-17 when they first enter care and if they require adult sizing that we do not have on hand. and youth 18-21 as they transition out of foster care. Each child is limited to an amount of $100 per gift card when they enter foster care, and amount/store may vary based on availability. We encourage you to speak to your agency and the child's agency to learn about resources and allowances they may have.

At this time, we do not provide shopping opportunities. Please provide detailed information about items, sizes and preference when completing the request form and our volunteers will do their best to provide items based on that information. The only exception is for teens/aged out youth, and/or special needs/adaptive clothing. We will reach out to set this up once we review the request and determine if it would be beneficial to invite the child or caregiver to shop based on our current inventory.

We are currently by appointment only. An Assistance Request form is to be completed and verification of placement is required before items are provided from our foster closet. Once the request is ready for pick up, our volunteers will reach out to arrange pick up.