Our heart is to support families and children within the child welfare system.
This includes foster, adoptive, kinship caregivers, and reunified families.
Children's Lantern works diligently to provide tangible and needed resources to the families we serve, as well as providing support by way of connecting with children and caregivers through activities, events, and emotional support on a continual basis.
WHAT WE DO?
Hope Closet
Being a foster, adoptive, or kinship caregiver can be overwhelming at times. We understand the demands on time, money, and resources can be great when caring for children in the welfare system. Children's Lantern provides items free of charge through our Hope Closet.
At Hope Closet, youth & their caregivers are encouraged to shop for needed items which may include new pajamas, shoes, socks, underwear, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and gently used or new seasonal clothing. Through our boutique-themed setup, we aim to boost a child's confidence & self esteem as they "shop" for the essentials in a quiet and welcoming environment. We strive to let our children know they are so loved, cared for, and known.
Have an emergency placement or just not able to come up and shop? We understand! Contact us with your current needs and we will gather available items and arrange for pickup.
We also host an annual Back to School Bash where children receive new backpacks, school supplies, shoes, and haircuts - absolutely free.
In the event that we are not able to fulfill a request for crucial clothing/hygiene items, we are able to give out gift cards on an as-needed basis.
Caregiver request for Hope House Boutique resources.
Please fill out form in its entirety.
WEIGHTED BLANKETS
A weighted blanket is to give the feeling of "being hugged" when wrapped in one, which is also called deep pressure touch stimulation. This is very helpful for individuals that have experienced trauma, have sensory needs, or special needs indicating the need for deep pressure touch stimulation. We are blessed to be able to offer these blankets to those in need!
All of our weighted blankets are handmade by volunteers pouring their love and prayers into the whole process - purchasing material, washing and ironing material, cutting and sewing material, and assembling the blankets with poly beads.
Our weighted blankets are available in weight increments of 3lbs, 5lbs, 8lbs, and 10lbs. When choosing a size, it is recommended that the blanket weight be 10% of the person's body weight. Currently, we offer these to children in foster care, kinship care, those adopted, and reunifying families. We also offer them to the trafficking survivors.
Fill out application for a weighted blanket.
Kinship Lantern of hope
Kinship Lantern of Hope serves kinship care families though partnership with the Defiance County Area Schools and funding from United Way of Defiance County. The Kinship Lantern of Hope program provides kinship families with specific needs as well as basic needs.
Please complete an application for assistance if you are a kinship family.
lantern lofts
The Lantern Lofts are two studio apartments that serve as a transitional housing program operating under a system of accountability and restoration as aged-out foster youth and young adults impacted by the child welfare system gain steps towards independence and success.
Within the Loft program young adults are provided with safe and stable housing, mentorship and life skills training, opportunities for personal and relational growth, and will work towards individual goals that lead to independence.
Practical examples of the mentorship and guidance they receive include finding steady employment or choosing a career path, enrolling in college, establishing a support system within a church or group, taking care of their health, advocating for themselves, becoming financially responsible, obtaining a vehicle, etc.