For months, Markus Golden, a former NFL player, has been supporting The Foster Alliance and the foster families they help. Inspired by a lifelong belief in giving back, Markus has chosen to stand alongside an organization dedicated to providing practical support and dignity to children in foster care, especially during the holidays.

Furthermore, his involvement reflects a commitment to community, compassion, and showing up for families when it matters most. While there are many ways to support foster families, such as through time, presence, or generosity, every act of care makes a difference. 🤝 We want to say a huge thank you to Markus Golden for using his platform to help lift others.

“A day can change a life.”

Inside the walls of The Foster Alliance, that is exactly how the day felt. You could hear kids laughing and see parents breathing easier while volunteers moved with purpose. Standing in the middle of it all, Markus Golden said it best: “We changed a lot of people’s lives today.”

Ultimately, that sentence captures the heart of the event. Although the results are visible now, the reason it mattered so much to Markus goes back years.

Why Markus Shows Up

Markus didn’t discover the value of service by accident. Instead, he grew up watching his grandmother work at a local shelter. Rather than just talking about giving back, she made him an active part of it. That early lesson stuck.

For Markus, giving isn’t just about one big moment or a single gift; rather, it is about showing up consistently. After hearing about how we help through a friend a few months ago, he felt an immediate pull to get involved. Consequently, when the opportunity came, he was there. This is a common thread you’ll hear from volunteers: once you see this work up close, it stays with you.

The Energy in the Room

Far from being a quiet day of service, the atmosphere was full of movement, noise, and joy. Markus noticed the visible relief on parents’ faces when they realized their kids would have everything they needed. Interestingly, that energy doesn’t come from the items on the shelves. It comes from dignity.

Specifically, it comes from families being welcomed and treated with genuine care. Because kids are able to choose things that feel like their own, they experience a sense of pride. Volunteers play a huge role here too, as they are not just handing out items; they are creating a moment of safety and normalcy.

A Lesson Passed Down

When discussing service, Markus often mentions his grandmother’s belief in starting small and staying faithful. If you don’t know where to begin, begin there. You can start by helping sort, walking alongside a family, or simply carrying boxes. Over time, one day of showing up becomes a habit. That’s how communities are built.

Meeting Families, Hearing Stories

During the event, Markus met several families and was moved by their joy, especially regarding the Christmas gifts for their children. While every family carries a unique story, some heavy and some hopeful, listening is part of the work. Whenever supporters give, they are sending a powerful message: You matter. You’re not alone.

What Giving Looks Like at The Foster Alliance

Importantly, giving isn’t only financial. Markus says it plainly: you can donate in many ways, and simply showing up matters. For example, your help might look like:

• Guiding a family through the store
• Sorting and organizing donations
• Helping items get packed and loaded
• Being a calm, encouraging presence on a busy day

In many cases, time is the most meaningful gift. Use your time to help, to listen, and to make a hard season feel lighter for a neighbor in need.

How the Day Works (Because Structure Matters)

Events like this work because of a specific rhythm that protects dignity:

• Welcome & check-in: First, families are greeted and oriented.
• Guided shopping: Next, volunteers walk with families to help find essentials.
• Stories along the way: Meanwhile, conversations happen naturally as trust builds.
• Checkout with dignity: Then, the process is completed smoothly and respectfully.
• Loading up & sending off: Finally, volunteers help carry items to cars.

How You Can Get Involved

Markus’s invitation is simple and practical:

• Show up: Consider volunteering for a shift or helping families shop.
• Put your time to work: Additionally, you can sort donations or stock shelves.
• Be present: Try to listen well and celebrate small wins with the families.
• Give how you can: While financial gifts fuel more days like this, your presence matters just as much.
• Keep showing up: Remember that support needs don’t stop after the holidays. We also need help during back-to-school, birthdays, and emergencies.

Why This Matters to Donors

If you’re a donor, you want impact you can see. Your support creates organized, dignified experiences, equips volunteers, and creates real moments kids remember. Even if you feel you can’t give much, showing up counts.

The Feeling at the End of the Day

When the last box was packed, Markus was still smiling. Serving here doesn’t drain people; instead, it reminds them what matters. Ultimately, it reminds us that community is built by presence, not perfection.

Your Next Step

Take action today by picking one volunteer shift, bringing a friend, or giving financially if you’re able. Both matter. Both change lives.

A child is waiting for something that fits just right, and a parent is hoping for a moment of relief. As Markus said, “We changed a lot of people’s lives today.” The next “today” is coming soon. Let’s be there for it together.

Have questions about how you can help? Contact us today to learn more about getting involved.

“The three kids that we shopped for today, we’ve gotten in the last two months.”

Ultimately, that single sentence says everything. In a home that said yes again and again, three children were welcomed in just eight weeks. When placements happen that fast, time often disappears while costs quickly pile up. Consequently, what families need most in these moments isn’t just inspiration; they need practical help right now.

Foster families step up in moments of real need, and community support helps make that possible. When foster parents don’t have to carry the burden alone, they can focus on creating stability, safety, and care for children during life’s most important transitions. Especially during the holidays, that support matters more than ever. 💙 Thank you for standing with foster families and helping them say yes when it matters most.

This video captures one foster family’s experience, but it also reflects a much bigger truth. When a community steps in quickly, foster parents can focus on what matters most: caring for kids. To understand the depth of this impact, it helps to look at how we help families navigate these sudden transitions.

A New State and the Same Commitment

“We fostered for four years in another state, and then we moved to Arizona a year ago. We’ve fostered here for about seven months now.”

Moving states typically resets everything for a family, including agencies, requirements, and systems. For foster families, this also means they must rebuild a support network from scratch. However, what doesn’t change is the calling. Because Haylee’s family didn’t pause when they crossed state lines, they got licensed again and opened their doors immediately. Within months, they welcomed three children into their home. This kind of readiness only works when support is already in place.

Before the First Night, the Basics Matter

“When we started fostering, our agency referred us here to get cribs and all the stuff we needed for our home study.”

That line carries significant weight because cribs mean infants who need safe sleep on night one. Additionally, the phrase “all the stuff” refers to dozens of items that add up fast, such as bedding, monitors, gates, car seats, and clothing. This is exactly where donor support becomes tangible. Specifically, it looks like:

• A crib already assembled and ready for use
• A room that is fully prepared for a new arrival
• A first night that feels calm instead of chaotic

The Barrier Is Real and It Is Fixable

“A big barrier for fostering is the expense and the time that you go into preparing for these kids.”

The cost of fostering is never theoretical. Since placements can happen with very little notice, families often start from zero for each child. They spend hours buying gear, guessing sizes, and juggling safety requirements. That is where giving funds changes everything. As Haylee mentioned, events like this take the load off so foster families can really focus on caring for the kids. Taking that load off doesn’t just save money; it also saves the emotional bandwidth parents need most.

Helpful and Meaningful

After the shopping is done, the takeaway is simple: “Today was so helpful and meaningful.” While “helpful” means their physical needs were met, “meaningful” means they didn’t feel alone. This distinction matters because it proves the experience was more than just a supply run. It was a moment of reassurance that someone else is carrying this burden with them.

Three Kids and Two Months Right Before the Holidays

Welcoming three children in two months brings a lot of change under one roof. New routines and new emotions are already a challenge, but then the holiday season arrives. Haylee noted that it is incredibly helpful to have extra support around the holidays so they can give the kids the Christmas they deserve.

Holidays are often complicated in foster care because joy and grief exist side by side. Support during this season doesn’t just provide gifts; it creates stability and belonging when emotions run high.

What Donor Support Looks Like in Real Life

When a placement happens quickly, here is how the “load” is lifted step by step:

• The Call: When a home is needed now, basics are already available.
• The First Hour: Children often arrive without clothes that fit. Support provides immediate access to essentials.
• The First Night: Safety matters most, so we provide cribs, beds, and comfort items.
• The First Morning: Life keeps moving with backpacks, lunches, and hygiene kits.
• The First Holiday: Because parents don’t have to worry about the cost, they can focus on making memories.

What “The Stuff” Really Includes

When foster parents mention “all the stuff,” they are usually referring to items like safe sleep gear, diapers, safety gates, and school supplies. Every item removes friction and helps a child feel truly welcomed. If you are looking to help provide these items, you can donate your time to help us sort and organize these donations for families.

Gratitude That Sounds Like Relief

The tone Haylee uses is calm and grounded. She mentions that the support made a lot of difference and was incredibly meaningful. This is what impact sounds like in a busy home: quiet relief and honest appreciation. It is proof that support arrived exactly when it mattered.

Your Next Step

Take action today by picking one volunteer shift, bringing a friend, or giving financially if you’re able. Both matter. Both change lives.

A child is waiting for something that fits just right, and a parent is hoping for a moment of relief. By lifting the load, foster families can do what they do best: care for kids. That is how real change happens.

Have questions about our testimonial programs or how to support families like Haylee’s? Contact us today to learn more.