The Ruth Project has helped over 100 families and 300 youth in its first two years

The Ruth Project just celebrated its second year of providing relief to foster families and restoring dignity to foster children.

Since opening its Storehouse doors in downtown Elgin in 2021, The Ruth Project has come alongside over 100 families and 300 children to provide them with practical provisions, ongoing support, and community connections.

"We expect that number to double by the end of the year," said Tammy McMahan, founder and executive director of The Ruth Project. The increase is likely, given the Elgin location and its proximity to thousands of foster families.

"Out of the 400,000 children in the U.S. who enter foster care each year, 21,000 are in Illinois and 18,000 are in the six counties neighboring Elgin. Our Ruth Storehouse is perfectly situated to connect with these foster families," McMahan said.

A major contributor to this "modern-day orphan crisis" is the 50-75% attrition rate of families who find themselves unable to financially or emotionally provide a home of refuge for these children after the first year. Burnout is rampant, and often children return to the system for multiple placements.

"Our goal is to support these families in ways that encourage and equip them to continue fostering over the long-haul. We're not just a one-time connection," McMahan said. "We develop relationships with these children and families and intentionally care for and support them on an ongoing basis."

Connections begin with a visit to the Ruth Storehouse in Elgin, where families meet McMahan and her daughter Ashley McMahan, who manages the Storehouse. Families make appointments to "shop" for everything they need to foster well, including supplies such as diapers, cribs, car seats, strollers, and high chairs, plus books, toys, and stuffies and a complete wardrobe for every child within their home - foster, adopted, and birth children. Each family returns home with an overflowing carload, all at no charge.

"We have an incredible network of donors, volunteers, and community partners who keep the Storehouse well-stocked with everything these families need," McMahan said. "But practical provisions are just the beginning. Every month is filled with opportunities for these families to engage and keep them from isolating, which is something many foster families struggle with."

One particularly popular monthly event is "Dash & Dine," during which families drive by the Ruth Storehouse to receive a "party in a box" containing a full meal for that evening and a frozen meal for later. Also included are themed tablecloths, centerpieces, place settings, books, and activities - all customized for the number of family members in the home and their ages.

"Dash & Dine provides practical relief to foster families so they can focus on making memories with their children and strengthening all the relationships under their roof," McMahan said. These events also provide an opportunity for both Tammy and Ashley McMahan to check in with the families as they drive through and see how they're doing.

"We want everything we do to be an encouragement to these families," McMahan said.

Local organizations and businesses such as Chick-fil-A are partnering with The Ruth Project to also be an encouragement to foster children and families right in their own backyard. Elgin's Chick-fil-A has committed to hosting Dash & Dine every other month by providing chicken sandwiches as the main course. Their first visit even featured the Chick-fil-A cow, who immediately became the star of the event.

"We are so grateful for our partnerships in the community like Chick-fil-A," said McMahan. "Their generosity is overwhelming, and they understand that together, everyone can foster even if they don't have children under their roof."

The Ruth Project is launching its third year by celebrating all the families who have connected to The Ruth Project and anticipating meeting new families coming to the Ruth Storehouse. They are also celebrating the 540 volunteers who faithfully help keep the Storehouse running smoothly and support foster families in a wide variety of ways.

"We are hopeful that The Ruth Project will impact the lives of all 18,000 foster children in our area," McMahan said. "This community has really only just begun to rally around these families. Together, we can reach them all."

For more information, go to www.ruthproject.com.

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