Defend the Fatherless

Mission: Give families one more reason to say, “Yes!” to the fatherless through foster care, adoption and kinship care.

Defend the Fatherless is a local non-profit organization that wraps around foster, adoptive and kinship families across York County, SC and beyond. We offer dynamic programming that supports families throughout their entire journey of caring for a child in crisis. These programs include: The Foster Closet, Beds for Kids in Care Program, Trauma-based Counseling Scholarships, Regular Connection and Respite Events Events, Back-to-School Support, Santa’s Helpers Program, Adoption Grants, and our Homemade Meal Program.  

At the Foster Closet families and social workers can "shop" at no cost for tangible supplies to help them say, "yes" to welcoming children into their home.  Supplies include: beds, car seats, baby equipment, diapers/wipes, clothing, shoes and more.  An average of 90 children per month are served at the Foster Closet.  Each child who shops is offered a duffle bag to carry their supplies and families are welcome to come back and shop as the child grows or as seasons of weather change.  Caregivers are offered a frozen meal to take home and to help lighten the load of a busy schedule.

Walking the road of caring for vulnerable children can be isolating.  We offer monthly connection and respite events to help build community and in hopes of changing the statistic that 50% of foster families end their journey in one year due to lack of support. 

Every person served at Defend the Fatherless is experiencing trauma.  We offer Mental Health Scholarships to allow families choice of what provider works best for their family.  We help to reimburse the cost of receiving trauma based therapy services.

Growing a family through adoption can be expensive.  Defend the Fatherless offers an annual Adoption Grant to help offset the cost of adoption.

Back 2 School is an exciting time!  We offer choice and dignity to the children we serve through granting Dream Shoe Wishes during our Back 2 School Program.  Children are also provided with a backpack and school supplies.

During our Santa's Helper Program, families receive gift cards to shop for the children in their home.  These gift cards are provided through community donations received from our Physical and Virtual Angel Trees.