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In 2014, Anthony and his wife, Laura, began the process of fostering to adopt. Admittedly, Anthony knew little to nothing about foster care at that time. In October of 2014, Anthony and Laura were placed with their two wonderful children, whom they later adopted in April of 2015. Through that journey, the Poteets quickly recognized several gaps within the foster care system—areas that simply were not beneficial to the children in care or the families welcoming them into their homes.

In early 2016, Anthony felt called to take action and founded Foster Families Assistance Network (FFAN) with the goal of supporting foster families in acquiring the essential items needed to create a safe, stable, and welcoming environment for children. Foster placements often happen suddenly and in emergency situations, leaving families with little time—or resources—to gather necessities for one child or multiple children at once. FFAN’s early mission was simple but powerful: eliminate the stress of acquiring “stuff” so foster parents could focus on what truly matters—stabilizing the environment and nurturing the children in their care.

“The FFAN Shop” was created with that mission in mind and is modeled after a retail thrift shop, drawing on Anthony’s more than 15 years of experience in retail leadership. The result is a dignified, welcoming shopping experience that allows foster families to select items with care and confidence, just as any family would.

At the end of 2025, FFAN took an exciting step forward by moving into a new, larger storefront. This expanded space not only allows FFAN to serve more families, but also opens the door to offering additional resources beyond tangible goods. Looking ahead to 2026, FFAN hopes to expand its impact even further by adding support groups and therapy sessions to the list of services offered—providing emotional and mental health support to foster parents and families alongside practical assistance.