The CASA Connection
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From Foster Child to Founder: Why National Foster Care Month Means So Much to Me
Every May, as spring settles into New England with all its unpredictability, I find myself reflecting on something deeply personal: National Foster Care Month. For many people, it is a time to learn more about the foster care system and the children and families it impacts. For me, it is that—and so much more. I am a former foster child and the founder and president of Fostering Change Inc., a Leominster-based 501(c)(3) organization committed to helping foster families access the resources they need to survive and helping foster children get the support they need to truly thrive.
My own journey through foster care shaped every part of that mission. The final time I entered care was in July 1996, just before my senior year of high school and only weeks before my 17th birthday. I arrived at a foster home in Gardner, Massachusetts, with a backpack, a few clothes, a pair of flip-flops, and a heart full of defeat. At the time, I had no way of knowing that day would become one of the most life-changing moments of my life.
I would go on to spend nearly three years in that foster home with my foster mother, Darlene, and six teenage girls at any given time—all sharing two bedrooms and one bathroom. It was crowded, loud, and far from easy, but it was also a place that changed me.
Darlene was one of the strongest people I have ever known. She helped shape me into the woman I am today—flaws and all. Because of her, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: blood does not define family. Family is built through heart, compassion, unwavering love, and consistent support. That lesson stayed with me, and over time I knew I wanted to pass that same sense of belonging on to children facing circumstances like mine.
In 2016, I was working a full-time job, was knee-deep in a full college courseload for my bachelor’s degree in business, and was a Girl Scout troop leader. The troop (seven- and eight-year olds) organized a Christmas drive. The girls knew my story, and they decided they wanted the gifts to go to children in foster care – so, that is exactly what we did. They collected around 150 toys, and their pride and excitement were unforgettable. It was a simple act of kindness, but it planted the idea that even a small community effort could make a meaningful difference.
The following year, people began reaching out to ask whether I was collecting Christmas gifts again, as I was no longer a Girl Scout leader – my daughter decided competitive dance was her thing instead. At the time, I was in an accelerated 11-month MBA program, working both a full-time and a part-time job, and raising my two kids. My response was, essentially, “Sure, why not?” Looking back, it may have sounded ambitious—or maybe just a little bit crazy—but sometimes the most meaningful work begins with simply saying “yes”.
As the effort grew, local support started showing up in remarkable ways. An attorney offered to help establish a nonprofit pro bono. An accountant offered to handle the taxes. A web designer and graphic artist offered support with a logo and website. At first, I kept saying “no”. I was overwhelmed, busy, and unsure of whether I was really supposed to build something bigger. But eventually, it became impossible to ignore what was unfolding. All the right pieces were falling into place, and I realized this was the moment to stop hesitating and start building. I call this day “the universal slap in the face heard around the world”.
On March 26, 2018, Fostering Change Inc. officially became a reality. In less than three months, the organization came together, supported by people who believed in the mission from the very beginning. I built a five-person Board of Directors, and four of those original members still serve today. Since then, the board has grown to eight members and includes perspectives from a former foster child, current foster parent, former foster parent, and a DCF social worker—voices that help keep our work rooted in lived experience and in real needs.
Since that day, we have been honored to support thousands of foster children. We serve newborns through young adults up to age 22, including children in foster care, kinship homes, recently aged-out youth, and families up to six months after adoption or guardianship from foster care is established. Every day, we work to stay close to the evolving needs of the foster care community so we can respond with care, dignity, and practical support.
That support takes many forms. Each year, we hold a school supply drive where we collect brand-new backpacks, school supplies, and clothing, then create a store-like experience so foster children can shop for what they need at no cost. During the holiday season, we collect brand-new gifts for children of all ages and fill boxes with meaningful presents.
We also provide clothing and hygiene products for emergency placements, help aged-out youth set up their first apartments, and collaborate with organizations such as CASA Project Worcester County to ensure young people in care do not fall through the cracks.
One of the most important things I have learned is that foster children are often a hidden demographic. Their needs are real and urgent, but not always visible to the outside world. You cannot look at a child and immediately know they are in foster care, which is one reason advocacy, community awareness, and collaboration matter so much. Through partnerships with organizations like CASA Project Worcester County and many others, we have been able to expand our reach and better serve the children and families who need us most.
Over the years, this work has introduced me to some truly extraordinary people—donors, volunteers, board members, local businesses, nonprofit partners, and community leaders who show up again and again for children in care. Fostering Change Inc. would not be where it is today without that collective support. In nonprofit work, and especially in the work of supporting foster children, the saying “many hands make light work” could not be more true. I have always believed that it takes a village to raise a child, and I am proud that our community continues to be that village.
If this story speaks to you and you would like to get involved, we would love to welcome you into our community.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Founded in 2018, Fostering Change, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities and resources to children in foster care so they can focus on simply being kids. Created by Lindsey English, a former foster youth, the organization was built from firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the challenges children in care often face.
Through community partnerships, donation drives, holiday programs, and essential support initiatives, Fostering Change works to ensure foster children feel valued, supported, and empowered. The organization’s mission is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to succeed, build confidence, and experience the joys of childhood regardless of their circumstances.
As someone who grew up in the foster care system, Lindsey founded Fostering Change to help make that vision a reality for children and families throughout Central Massachusetts.
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