Summer is heating up—and so are the needs of our local foster community. When school’s out, everyday essentials become even more critical for families welcoming new placements. That’s where our Safe Seats and Safe Slumber programs step in, providing new car seats for safe and secure travel, and new beds for restful, stable nights.

So far this year, nearly 150 children have been served through these two vital programs—and the need isn’t slowing down. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to make a difference this summer, we’d love your help! Just visit our "how to help" page for details.

Thanks for standing in the gap for local children!

Laura Storm
Executive Director, Co-Founder

We have the BEST supporters! 🎉 Because of your votes, we’re honored to be a 2025 Ladue News Charity Award recipient. Thank you for helping us shine! 🌟

The honor came with a feature in the June 27th issue of Ladue News, highlighting the impact Foster Together has on the St. Louis area foster community. We'll also get to "takeover" Ladue News' social media for a day - so stay tuned for those posts! 

If you’ve been around Foster Together for any length of time, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Rebecca Kadlez. And if you have—you remember her.

She and her husband Tom both spent time in foster care growing up, and from the very beginning, they knew they wanted to give back when the time was right. After raising their three biological kids, that time came. They became licensed foster parents, ready to open their home—and their hearts—to more children.

When their first placement arrived in 2018, Rebecca reached out to us for support. She connected with Laura, picked up a few needed items—and before that first conversation was over, she was already asking how she could help other foster families.

What started with dropping off Welcome Kits quickly grew into something more. As Rebecca met more families and learned more about what was truly needed—things like safe sleep spaces and car seats—she started sharing those insights with us. Her ideas and input helped shape what are now two of our core programs: Safe Slumber and Safe Seats, referenced in our opening article. These vital resources have helped hundreds of families say “yes” to new placements with confidence.

As those programs grew, so did Rebecca’s role. Her heart for serving—especially new foster parents—made her the perfect fit as our Outreach and Education Specialist. These days, she’s planning foster parent recruitment events, leading continuing education classes, welcoming new families, and ensuring no one feels like they’re doing this alone. She brings people together with a calm, steady presence that just makes you feel like everything’s going to be okay.

Now a mom of nine—three biological and six adopted, including two who just officially became part of the “Kadlez Tribe” this month—Rebecca somehow keeps finding ways to show up for others. She’s one of the most gracious, understanding people we know. She sees the good in everyone, makes room at the table, and gives the rest of us something to look up to.

We’re so grateful to have Rebecca on our team—and in our lives.

Baked goods for a good cause with the Bakery Crawl, July 14 - 20. The Bakery Crawl "passport" is just $10 and gives you access to special discounts and samples of sweet treats and baked goods at 10 different St. Louis area bakeries. All proceeds benefit Foster Together!

Click here for details or to purchase your pass or watch this segment on Show Me St. Louis explaining the fun event!