Our Mission

Our mission is to bring comfort, dignity, and hope to children in foster care across New Jersey. We support youth during times of uncertainty by providing essential items, emotional encouragement, and community-driven resources. Through collaboration with volunteers, donors, and partners, we strive to remind every child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved.

Our organization is proud to be a part of this important work, and we invite you to join us in creating a brighter future for foster children and families in New Jersey. We rely on contributions from individuals, partnerships, and dedicated volunteers to support our mission and programs. All contributions are tax-deductible and our nonprofit tax identification number is #84-2551194.

Our Story

Phyllis DiNardi was inspired to start We Are Loved after years of advocating for and fostering 49 children in the foster care system. She saw how foster children desperately needed empathy, support, and empowerment in a safe, loving community, while learning essential life skills. We Are Loved provides resources, training, and support to encourage healthy and happy development of foster care families in New Jersey. Phyllis’s tireless efforts have brought hope to a community that is under-resourced and often overlooked.

Programs

Birthday Boxes At We Are Loved, we're passionate about spreading love and joy to children, especially those in foster care who may not have the same opportunities as others. With children in foster care moving an average of 7 times, it's easy for birthdays to get lost in transition. But with our heartwarming Birthday Box initiative, we're able to help ensure that no birthday gets overlooked, and that a little extra magic is sprinkled into their special day. Each beautifully decorated box is filled with all the essentials for a fun and memorable celebration - cake mix, frosting, birthday plates, napkins, candles, and even a gift card - ensuring that these derserving children's birthdays are filled with moments of happiness and that they feel cherished and celebrated.

Love Bags Embrace the power of compassion and kindness with this heartwarming initiative to provide Love Bags for foster youth. These specially curated bags, filled with essential hygiene items, cozy pajamas, and thoughtful goodies, aim to bring a sense of comfort and support to children navigating the challenging transition into new foster homes.

Comfort Bags Our Comfort Bags are provided to police departments to distribute to children during difficult or traumatic moments, such as removals, domestic incidents, or other crisis responses. Each bag is thoughtfully assembled with age-appropriate items like coloring books or journals, sensory toys, snacks, and water to help ease stress, provide distraction, and offer a sense of comfort during challenging times. We also provide bins of phone chargers and cosmetic bags with sanitary products to give out as needed.

Holiday Boxes Dive into the spirit of giving this holiday season with our heartwarming Holiday Boxes program. Filled with essentials like new pajamas, slipper socks, a cozy blanket, and hot chocolate mix, each box is designed to bring joy to children in foster care. Our initiative goes beyond just providing items; it aims to create lasting memories and a sense of belonging during a time that can be difficult for many. With a special touch of personalization and a gift card for foster teens, we are dedicated to brightening the holiday season for these deserving children and showing them that traditions can be redefined with love and care.

LUV Program Join us in our mission to support and empower foster youth with our LUV (Learning Unique Values) Program. Designed to enhance personal and academic growth, our workshops and resources cater specifically to children aged 10-18 in foster care, aiming to unlock their unique potential and equip them with essential life skills for a successful future. Through monthly support meetings filled with educational activities, guest speakers, and social support, we create a nurturing environment where foster families can thrive together. From cooking and self-care to career coaching and financial literacy, our program offers a wide range of classes to foster holistic development and well-being for these deserving youth.

Letter from the Founder

Foster care is a challenging and often overlooked aspect of our society. Foster children, who are often traumatized, require a special type of nurturing and care to overcome their difficulties and thrive. Fortunately, We Are Loved has stepped up to provide much-needed support and encouragement to foster communities.

We Are Loved is committed to supporting the foster community through empathy, training, and encouragement. One of the ways we accomplishes this is by holding regular meetings where resource parents can receive the training they need to provide the best possible care for their foster children. These meetings are also a great way for resource parents to connect with one another and build a community of support.

In addition to meetings, We Are Loved also provides outreach to foster children and their families. By partnering with other organizations and individuals, We Are Loved is able to provide resources and support to those who need it the most. Foster children and their families are often isolated and in need of connection, and We Are Loved works hard to bridge those gaps.

Another important aspect of We Are Loved is its focus on empathy. The organization understands that foster children have been through a lot and that it can be difficult for them to trust and connect with others. By offering a compassionate and understanding approach, We Are Loved is able to build trust with foster children and help them to feel loved and cared for.

Finally, We Are Loved recognizes the importance of partnerships in supporting the foster community. By working with other organizations and individuals, We Are Loved is able to provide a more robust set of resources and support to foster children and their families. Through these partnerships, We Are Loved is able to expand its reach and provide even more help to those who need it.

In conclusion, We Are Loved is doing important work in supporting the foster community. Through its focus on support, empathy, meetings, training, encouragement, outreach, foster children, resource parents, and partnerships, this organization is making a real difference in the lives of those who need it the most. If you are interested in supporting the foster community, consider getting involved with We Are Loved or another organization that focuses on this important issue. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of foster children and their families.

Phyllis A DiNardi

President/Founder

We Are Loved