Our Impact

With Love

Stories from the heart

Scott’s Story

The deep satisfaction of being a With Love driver

More than two years ago, a With Love board member invited me to be a delivery driver. They noted, “you like to drive around” (true). “You like to see what’s developing in the metro area” (also true). “You are committed to the youngest generation” (I do love kids). “You enjoy helping out folks in need” (oh, so very true). The invitation was flattering but it took me four months to say yes. Silly me!…

Esther’s Story

It is never easy, but With Love makes saying yes so much easier

It’s ten o’clock at night and I’m in the middle of getting ready for bed when we receive a call – there is an 18-month-old girl needing a place for the night, maybe more. How do you say no?

On a Tuesday, we get a call for preemie twins. They had been discharged the day before but were stuck in the hospital because there was no place for them to go. A quick call to my husband and we nervously say ok.

Then there’s a call at 7:00 p.m. about two siblings getting discharged from the hospital needing a safe place to stay. The one and two-year-old may have to get a hotel room unless we take them in. They have nowhere to go…

Becky’s Story

Our Foster Care Story (so far…)

My husband Brandon and I have always wanted a large family, and we both agreed we would eventually adopt. That was always the plan… it’s funny how things change.

The change all started five years ago when a friend introduced me to a brand-new non-profit, With Love. A group of our friends headed over to the founder’s home and sorted through adorable kids clothing, separating them into correct sizes, and wrapping them with ribbon in cute little bundles. These bundles of clothes were heading out the door to children in foster care. I immediately fell in love with the organization and found ways to get more involved: washing laundry, leading volunteer shifts, joining the board, handing out bundles and other goodies at Foster Parent Night Out, and (my favorite) deal-hunting for brand new clothing!…

The Musgrove Family

With Love Stepped Into the Gap

While most parents have nine months to prepare for a newborn baby, our family had three hours. Our foster child—and her age—were unexpected, so, aside from a car seat, we had nothing! With Love stepped into the gap and within 48 hours, fulfilled our wish list with more than we could have imagined: a playard, baby swing, diapers and clothing that will last our little one until she is 6 months old.

As foster parents, we often struggle with asking for help because of the impermanency of our situation. With Love stands in that awkward space by providing necessities to foster children and families, filling a very tangible need in our community.

We are forever grateful for the hard work of With Love’s volunteers and staff!

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Foster Families

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With Love supports the tangible needs of foster families caring for children ages 0-6 in Oregon and SW Washington.

Executive Summary
2023

Annual Report
2022

Annual Report
2021

Annual Report
2020

Scott’s Story

The Deep Satisfaction of Being a With Love Driver

More than two years ago, a With Love board member invited me to be a delivery driver. She noted that I like to drive around (true). That I like to see what’s developing in the metro area (also true). That I’m committed to the youngest generation (I do love kids). And that I enjoy helping folks in need (oh, so very true). The invitation was flattering, but it took me four months to say yes. Silly me!

Since joining the With Love family of volunteers, I look forward to each day that I get to serve the amazing foster families. The fact that they open their hearts and homes to a foster child is such an impressive act of kindness and community service. Every child deserves a safe home, nutritious food and a loving environment that nurtures their unique personalities and skills. Foster families are there to temporarily fill this gap.

“Since joining the With Love family of volunteers, I look forward to each day that I get to serve the amazing foster families. The fact that they open their hearts and homes to a foster child is such an impressive act of kindness and community service.

With Love provides much-needed items to foster children, from newborns to 6-year-old children, at no cost. To make their services even more valuable, With Love delivers these items directly to the homes of foster parents. This is so important because the lives these foster parents have suddenly become filled with court and doctor appointments and Department of Human Services visitations. With Love makes the foster experience easier and more affordable.

As a driver, I appreciate the organization With Love provides. It works like this: I receive an email about a delivery; I text the foster parent to agree on a delivery time; I head to With Love’s warehouse (the items are clearly marked and ready for pick up); and I drop them off.  Each of these families are receiving high-quality items, many that you wouldn’t even think of, to assist their new foster child. That’s impressive!

I recently made a delivery to a young couple that had become certified as foster parents and agreed to care for three siblings. I’m inspired by the bravery I witness in families like this every day.

If you are interested in becoming a With Love delivery driver, I have an open passenger seat with your name on it.

– Scott G

Esther’s Story

It is never easy, but With Love makes saying yes so much easier

It’s 10 p.m. and I’m in the middle of getting ready for bed when we receive a call – there is an 18-month-old girl needing a place for the night, maybe longer. How do you say no?

On a Tuesday, we got a call for preemie twins. They had been discharged the day before but were stuck in the hospital with no place to go. A quick call to my husband and we nervously say, “OK.”

Then there’s a call at 7 p.m. about two siblings getting discharged from the hospital. The 1- and 2-year-old may have to stay in a hotel unless we take them in. They have nowhere else to go.  

This year alone, we’ve had six of these calls and said yes every time. Real children in our community who, when you say yes, show up at your doorstep – often with only the clothes on their back. They are sweet, scared and looking for a safe place to call home.  

Fostering is hard. It is emotionally fatiguing and always a surprise. As foster parents, there is truly no way to prepare. You have a 2-year-old boy, then shortly after, a baby girl that barely weighs four pounds. With Love allows my family to say yes, knowing they will provide the items these children desperately need, so we are able to focus on helping the kids settle in our home. It feels like Christmas when a With Love delivery shows up. The kids receive clothes, toys, books, equipment – so many high-quality items chosen to meet their specific needs.

“With Love allows my family to say yes, knowing they will provide the items these children desperately need, so we are able to focus on helping the kids settle in our home.”

It is never easy, but With Love makes saying yes so much easier. Knowing you have someone partnering with you to care for this child makes all the difference. We are so thankful for this community who continues to support and serve all the sweet babies who truly do deserve safe and warm places to call home.

– Esther S

Becky’s Story

Our Foster Care Story (so far…)

My husband Brandon and I have always wanted a large family, and we both agreed we would eventually adopt. That was always the plan—it’s funny how things change.

The change all started five years ago when a friend introduced me to the brand-new organization With Love. A group of our friends headed over to the founder’s home and sorted through adorable kids’ clothing, separating them into correct sizes, and wrapping them with ribbon into cute little bundles. These bundles of clothes were heading out the door to children in foster care. I immediately fell in love with the organization and found ways to get more involved: washing laundry, leading volunteer shifts, joining the board, handing out bundles and other goodies at Foster Parent Night Out and (my favorite) deal-hunting for brand-new clothing!

Over the course of the last five years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the most adorable foster kids and the amazing families who love and provide for them. I’ve heard countless stories and learned about the massive need for good foster homes in the Portland area. Over time, my heart warmed to the idea of stepping into foster care. My husband was on board, and after nine months of paperwork, background checks, hours of certification classes and a home study, we were “emergency certified” as a foster family in April 2018.  

“Over the course of the last five years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the most adorable foster kids and the amazing families who love and provide for them. I’ve heard countless stories and learned about the massive need for good foster homes in the Portland area.”

We knew about the great need for foster families in Portland, so we assumed that DHS would call right away. But because of our biological children’s ages (6, 4 and 2), we’re only able to take children from infancy through 24 months. Though there is a need for foster homes to take in babies, they are generally easier to place than older children and teens.  

After waiting three weeks, our first call came. Another foster family had taken in a sibling group of four children under the age of five, but they needed a break! DHS placed two of the siblings (ages four and 10 months) with us for two weeks. That was without a doubt the craziest two weeks of our lives. The very first night, the sweet four-year-old got a stomach bug, which of course, made its way through the rest of our home (yep, all seven of us) within that two-week period. I’ve never done so much laundry in my life! Despite the illness, those two weeks were a great learning experience for us and a chance to dip our toes into the water of foster care.

Then, we waited some more. On June 14, we received another call and said yes to the two sweetest babies—one a newborn straight from the hospital, the other, a tender, snuggly 15-month-old with a contagious smile. They instantly fit in with our family, despite the lack of sleep and the stress of getting five children under the age of 7 dressed and buckled into car seats.  

Along with these sweet babies came appointments. So. Many. Appointments. Court calls, medical and dental visits, behavioral and learning assessments, attorney meetings and visits with the biological parents. We were completely unprepared for all of it. The hardest part for me is witnessing the emotional toll foster care takes on the kids. Hearing their background stories is heartbreaking, and it is daunting to think about the potential life-long effects their trauma will have on them. But for even a short time, we know they are safe, content, thriving and loved. And our family is honored to have been a part of their story.

Brandon and I still hope to adopt someday, but for now, “the plan” is to be the best foster family we can to precious little ones in foster care.

– Becky B

The Musgrove Family’s Story

With Love Stepped Into the Gap

While most parents have nine months to prepare for a newborn baby, our family had three hours. Our foster child—and her age—were unexpected, so, aside from a car seat, we had nothing! With Love stepped into the gap and within 48 hours, fulfilled our wish list with more than we could have imagined: a playard, baby swing, diapers and clothing that will last our little one until she is 6 months old.

As foster parents, we often struggle with asking for help because of the impermanency of our situation. With Love stands in that awkward space by providing necessities to foster children and families, filling a very tangible need in our community.

We are forever grateful for the hard work of With Love’s volunteers and staff!

-The Musgrove Family