Providing the tools and resources for a powerful future.
EVERYDAY RESOURCES
Welcome to the Everyday Resources Page
At Fostering Heroes, we believe every child in foster care deserves more than shelter—they deserve joy, growth, and connection. That’s why our Everyday Resources Program exists: to equip our EveryDay Hero volunteers and group homes with the essential items that bring laughter, learning, and comfort to youth who have experienced trauma and instability.
This page is your guide to understanding what these everyday items are, why they matter, and how you can help provide them.
Why Do Group Homes Need Everyday Resources?
Group homes are more than just places where youth live—they’re spaces where healing begins. But these homes often lack the everyday materials most of us take for granted: a board game for a Friday night, a set of pencils and paper to sketch out feelings, or even a working basketball hoop for teens to blow off steam.
Many of the youth we serve are between 13–18 years old and are several grade levels behind their peers. They’re navigating trauma, grief, and complex emotions, often without access to healthy outlets. That’s where you come in.
By supplying resources like books, games, art supplies, and sports equipment, you help transform these group homes into nurturing environments where:
Volunteers can effectively engage and build trust
Kids can explore new interests and talents
Youth have safe, productive ways to manage stress
Positive memories can be created—even during hard times
The Role of Resources in Building Resilience
Resilience doesn’t come from lectures—it’s built through experiences. A simple game of Uno can spark laughter and connection. A sketchbook becomes a private space for expression. A book might open up a new world or help a child feel seen for the first time. A basketball game might be the first time a teen feels part of a team.
These are not luxuries. They are essentials for emotional regulation, social development, and self-esteem. For foster youth, everyday items become everyday therapy.
When a child picks up a paintbrush instead of acting out, that’s progress. When a quiet teen joins a game night, that’s connection. These moments are what build resilience—bit by bit, day by day.
How These Resources Help Our EVERYDAY HERO MENTORS Succeed
Fostering Heroes EveryDay Hero volunteers are trained mentors, tutors, and compassionate role models—but they can only do so much without the right tools. Our sessions are most effective when volunteers can meet the youth where they are—with activities that feel safe, enjoyable, and engaging.
Resources allow volunteers to:
Build rapport through shared fun
Reinforce academic skills using interactive materials
Encourage youth to express themselves without pressure
Adapt sessions to the unique needs and moods of each child
Without games, art supplies, or reading materials, our volunteers face an uphill battle. With them, they become agents of transformation.
A Day in the Life: How a Basketball or Book Changes Everything
Morning: A 15-year-old boy wakes up agitated. He barely speaks to staff and avoids group activities. But one of our EveryDay Hero volunteers shows up with a new book series—action-packed, short chapters, and full of relatable characters. The boy cracks open the first one and finishes two chapters by lunch.
Afternoon: A small group of teens head outside to play basketball. It’s the only place where one of the kids, usually withdrawn, lights up. Today, a new portable hoop gets delivered. The game gets a little louder. The laughter a little freer.
Evening: A young girl curls up in her room with a sketchpad. She’s been in the home for just two weeks, and hasn’t spoken much. But tonight, she draws for an hour straight. The next day, she hands the drawing to an EveryDay Hero volunteer—it’s a picture of the two of them.
None of these stories happen without the everyday things.
Be Part of the Change
The youth in Arizona’s group homes are full of potential—but they need the right tools to discover it. You can be the one who provides those tools.
Whether you’re a parent, business owner, teacher, or just someone who wants to help—your contribution matters. A single book. A single paintbrush. A single basketball. These small things add up to something life-changing.
Your Impact:
- $25 provides art supplies for a group home for one month.
- $50 provides games and beading supplies.
- $100 provides comics, books, flashcards and school prep materials.
- $150 provides sports equipment, electronics and more!
Let’s turn group homes into places of play, creativity, and connection. Let’s make sure every volunteer has what they need to uplift a child. Let’s remind these kids that they are not forgotten.
You can be that reminder.
Donate. Volunteer. Share. Be a Hero.
SPONSOR A GROUP HOME
EveryDay Resources
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Donation | $NONE |
| Fees ( 3% ) | $NONE |
| Total | $No Charge |
What Kind of Items Are Most Needed?
We work directly with group homes and volunteers to identify the highest-impact items. Here are some examples of what your support helps provide:
Games & Activities
Board games for all ages (Uno, Sorry!, Connect 4, Jenga)
Card games, puzzles, and brain teasers
Cooperative and team-building games
Age-appropriate video games (for homes with consoles)
Arts & Crafts Supplies
Drawing pads, colored pencils, markers, sketchbooks
Acrylic paints, watercolors, brushes, and canvases
Beads, friendship bracelet kits, craft paper
Journals and writing prompts for self-expression
Books & Educational Materials
High-interest, low-reading-level books for teens
Graphic novels, fiction series, and biographies
Workbooks and flashcards for basic math and reading
Self-help books for youth on confidence, mindfulness, and growth
Outdoor Play & Sports Equipment
Basketball hoops and balls
Footballs, soccer balls, frisbees
Jump ropes, cones, and portable sports gear
Inflatable pool toys, if appropriate
Comfort & Creativity Boosters
Headphones and MP3 players for music therapy
DIY kits (model airplanes, LEGO sets, science kits)
Whiteboards and markers for learning or fun
Storage bins to organize creative spaces
