NJ Angels expands efforts to support foster kids in Morris. Here's how you can help

New Jersey Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster care families , is expanding its Morris County operations and volunteers are needed.

With a $7,500 grant from Ion Bank, Executive Director Kim Wilkisson is looking to bring the Jackson-based group's programs — including Love Box, which provides practical and emotional support through volunteer visits, and Dare to Dream, which focuses on mentorship for older children — to the northern part of the state.

Established in 2021, New Jersey Angels is part of a national network with 19 chapters.

"Our mission is to walk alongside children, youth, and families experiencing foster care," said Wilkisson.

The Love Box program takes its name from the supply box that volunteers deliver monthly to foster families with items like snacks and detergent. Volunteers provide something even more crucial, Wilkisson added: companionship and regular engagement. The group targets the whole family's needs, including biological children who might feel overlooked.

In one case, a volunteer was matched with a foster family to spend time with their biological sons, playing soccer and chess and ensuring they felt valued while their parents cared for a foster infant.

Dare to Dream, meanwhile, offers mentorship to older children in the foster system, who "age out" as early as 18. New Jersey Angels volunteers help people between 18 and 22 build life skills and set personal goals.

"Foster care is a pipeline to so many societal ills — homelessness, incarceration, human trafficking," Wilkisson said. "New Jersey Angels imagines a different scenario for these kids."

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About 3,000 New Jersey children are in foster care, according to the state.

While Wilkisson didn't have a tally of how many foster parents are available, it's "not enough," she said. Several towns, including Camden, have moved children out of their areas because of the shortage, she said.

Currently serving eight counties, New Jersey Angels also plans to use the grant to get the word out about what they offer. The organization hopes to connect with foster families in northern New Jersey and offer support through current and new volunteers.

How to help foster kids in NJ

The group seeks volunteers who can offer various skills, from sports to financial advice, reflecting a broad community effort to boost children and families in need.

Here's some of the help they are looking for:

• General volunteers: people who can offer practical support, such as delivering snacks, paper towels and laundry detergent to foster families. These volunteers also provide emotional support by building relationships with the families.
• Mentors: volunteers who can mentor older children in the foster system, especially those close to aging out. Mentors help kids develop life skills and guide them in setting and achieving goals.
• Special skills: people who have specific skills, such as coaching, financial advising or legal expertise can be beneficial to both the children and foster families.
• Event volunteers: those who can help at events and with awareness campaigns for the organization.

Wilkisson said the group looks for people who are empathetic, reliable and eager to make a difference. Volunteers are expected to commit to at least one year of service, engaging with their matched family or youth at least once a month to develop and maintain a supportive relationship.

Gene Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today .

Email: myers@northjersey.com Twitter: @myersgene

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Angels expands efforts to support foster kids in Morris. Here's how you can help