Shineforth

26/02/2026

Thank you, Caring Closet, for your thoughtful and generous gestures toward youth who are navigating challenging situations. You provide an invaluable community service and make a tremendous difference for children and teens. We're proud to partner with you and grateful to call you neighbors.

As a proud member of the Generosity Collective, Caring Closet was honored to serve 400 Shineforth children and families with clothing in 2025! ✨

Shineforth is a nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive array of programs and services to help children, teens and families overcome challenges and succeed. From foster care to specialized education to residential treatment, each offering focuses on meeting people where they and empowering them to navigate challenges and heal.

As part of our partnership, Caring Closet welcomed over 80 children for monthly visits to our Chris Brown Library and Robert Atack Store. 📖🧸

We also provided 66 Welcome Bags filled with essential comfort items to children traveling through difficult situations. 🎒A small reminder that they are cared for and not alone during transitions. 🩷💜🩷

Thanks to our supporters for helping children and families on their journey to healing, stability and hope! 💙💛💙💛

23/02/2026

If you'd like to learn more about volunteering in support of foster parents, visit Shineforth.org/volunteer or contact Volunteer Coordinator Lauren McMullen at lmcmullen@shineforth.org.

There's an immediate need for volunteers in Fredericksburg and Richmond. Foster parents are doing incredible work caring for the children and teens who come into their care. In turn, Shineforth is working to ensure foster parents have the resources, support, and tools they need.

Shineforth is actively seeking volunteers to provide meals during foster parent support groups. We're also seeking volunteers who can partner with Shineforth staff to provide onsite childcare during support groups. Sign-up links are in the comments.

20/02/2026

Shineforth wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the Auxiliary for its generous and sustained support of our staff and the children and teens who we serve at Shineforth. The Auxiliary is a faith-based volunteer team that's been partnering with our organization for an incredible 96 years. Auxiliary has accounted for countless smiles and celebrations and most recently gifted our Richmond campus a hot chocolate bar. Thank you, Auxiliary, for your unwavering partnership and support!

(Pictured from left: Jo Lewis, Helen Wood, Kelly Desclos-Estes, and Jennifer Klotz.)

16/02/2026

Shineforth and Troublemaker Café in Lynchburg invite you to get into some good trouble this month! ☕📚

Troublemaker Café is generously partnering with Shineforth, and we’d love for you to stop by and show them some love. If you’re craving an amazing cup of coffee or a sweet treat, Troublemaker Café is the spot for you.

You can find inside Givens Books & Little Dickens, located off Lakeside Road in Lynchburg.

Sip, shop, and support a partnership that’s making a difference in our community. 💛

14/02/2026

❤️ Shineforth families always illuminate love. ❤️

“I didn’t give up hope.” Adame finds comfort in the little things: the gentle glide of a paintbrush sweeping across canvas; the soft strum of an acoustic guitar; and the sweet warmth of his grandma’s homemade bread pudding. Above all, Adame finds comfort in belonging. But for most of Adame.....

13/02/2026

Congratulations on your very well-deserved recognition, T! Thank you for all you do for VA Project LIFE and youth in foster care. Many thanks also to the Richmond Free Press for the wonderful feature. Link to full story in the comments.

11/02/2026

Shineforth Child & Family Services is the grateful recipient of a $50,000 grant from the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. Visit our blog to read about the incredible impact this gift will have on the children, teens, and young adults we serve at Shineforth.

RICHMOND, VA. — Shineforth Child & Family Services is the grateful recipient of a $50,000 program grant from the Virginia United Methodist Foundation. The grant will fund an independent-living space that will benefit high school students at Charterhouse School, youth served in our...

10/02/2026

Shineforth Child & Family Services was pleased to see that kinship foster care legislation (HB 632 | SB 305) passed committee hearings on February 5 and February 6. Follow the link for the full story on our blog.

RICHMOND, VA. — Shineforth Child & Family Services was pleased to see that HB 632 | SB 305 kinship foster care; barrier crime waiver passed committee hearings on February 5 and February 6, respectively. Once signed into law, more relatives in Virginia who were charged in the past with misdemeanors...

10/02/2026

Hi, there. Our new website is now live at Shineforth.org. Thank you, team COLAB, for building us such a cozy new digital home.

What does everyone think of Shineforth.org? Drop us a note in the comments.

07/02/2026

The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation is a valued partner of Shineforth and a champion for our mission. We're incredibly grateful to have received a generous grant from GLCF to expand our foster parent recruitment and training efforts in the Greater Lynchburg region.

When we're provided with the resources needed to connect with families who have the heart to open their home to a child or teen in foster care, a process is set in motion that ultimately impacts not just one child, but an entire community.

Thank you, The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation, for making this possible.

04/02/2026

We're just one week away from our Foster Parent Info Session at Grace Christian School for a Foster Parent Info Session on February 11 at 6 p.m. We're grateful to Grace Christian School for the collaboration and hope you'll join us for this no-cost, no-commitment event on the beautiful GCS campus (8067 Atlee Rd, Mechanicsville, Va., 23111).

02/02/2026

Through the years, students and staff at Shineforth's Charterhouse School in Richmond have illuminated Black History Month in a number of creative and inspiring ways: artwork, educational displays, historical depictions, song, and dance, to name a few.

Charterhouse School's approach to Black History Month is thoughtful and inclusive, and its call to action has always been to not only celebrate African American Heritage but also to learn about it.

Thank you, Charterhouse School students, for stoking the collective curiosity of Shineforth staff and for inspiring us to embrace new perspectives.