Together For Good

We are so thankful for our volunteers and partner churches who packed hundreds of backpacks, going above and beyond to make sure that each child felt valued and prepared. We know how important it is for a child to feel ready on the first day of school. This expense can be stressful for struggling families. It means so much to both the mom and child to receive a brand-new backpack fully prepared for the school year. #backtoschool #upstreamcare #familypreservation

Introducing Nick Tofteland – our new Director of Advancement! Nick shared, "What drew me to Together for Good is the genuine impact this ministry has on children, families, and communities by mobilizing the Church to live out faith in action through the power of relationships. I’m honored to help share the stories of God’s work through this ministry and its people, and I’m eager to help us continue expanding our capacity to do good, love our neighbor, and mobilize the Church for even greater impact." Nick's journey in advancement has led him through roles at Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha, Minnehaha Academy, and as a consultant with Brenda Moore & Associates. These experiences have deepened his conviction in the Church’s vital role in caring for those in need and inspiring others to live out their faith in service to their neighbors. His wife, Jen, and their sons, Cole (9) and Ezekiel (6) are grateful to be part of this wonderful community. They are fully committed to supporting a mission that reflects TFG's values and drives the organization's passion for serving others.

Every family will experience "hard challenges." For most of us, these challenges are overcome through the community we have. But what if you had no one to call when you received a diagnosis of cancer? What if you had no one to help when your car broke down? For many of our families, the crisis they are facing is unbearable only because they are facing it alone. Will you help ensure no family has to walk alone? Your gift of time, talent, or treasure to Together for Good will show a family that they are not alone and make all the difference in their lives.

Long-term hostings are an incredible opportunity to serve a family. In Kalia's* case, her daughter Tia* began being hosted by TFG volunteers when she was only four months old. For nearly a year, Tia has been cared for by her host family, all while Kalia's TFG Case Manager has helped to navigate incarceration and lack of housing for Kalia. Through prayer and persistence, Tia is now transitioning back into being in the care of her mom. Our model of voluntary support allows for family preservation whenever it is safe to do so. We are so grateful for Tia's host family who have poured love into her life and sought to support and elevate Kalia. *Names changed to protect privacy. #familypreservation #upstreamcare

We love the way our host families—especially our host siblings—give our participant kids the freedom to enjoy summer. No matter the crisis their family may be facing, hostings allow kids to be kids while their parents can focus on stabilizing with the comfort that their child is being well cared for and will be coming home to them as soon as they are ready!

When we combine all of the individual hostings that have happened in MN, IA, and TX this year, there have been more than 1,600 days that children were in a safe home while their parents were able to experience respite or recover from a crisis. All our hostings are provided through volunteers and all of our work is funded through private donors. If you would like to provide the opportunity for even more children to have a safe home to stay in, you can donate at tfgood.org/give

We're #hiring a new Executive Assistant and Campaign Manager in St Paul, Minnesota. Apply today or share this post with your network!

We can all do something to end the child welfare crisis. We can all do something to ensure that all children are in a loving home. We can all do something to keep neglect and abuse from being the experience of innocent children. Some of our staff had the privilege of seeing an early screening of the powerful movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot before it comes to theaters on July 4. We encourage you to watch this movie and see the impact that just one church can have on children in their community.

Seeing all that has happened in 7 years of ministry is incredible! We have grown from serving 15 families to more than 300! We have gone from just serving in Minnesota to meeting the needs of vulnerable families in Iowa and Waco, Texas. We are prayerfully anticipating what is in store for this next year! If you are new to TFG, these slides share a bit of our history and our vision for the future.

Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” We are so thankful for our host families that involve their children in this ministry! You do not need to wait until "the right age" or "perfect season" to begin hosting, our participant children love being included by your family in whatever moment or season you are in. (Posted with permission)