New Hope for Families launches diaper drive, foster care event, meeting

Diapers are one of the fastest-growing costs for foster and kinship families, and New Hope for Families is trying to ease that pressure before it becomes another burden on homes already stretched thin. The Duluth-based nonprofit is asking neighbors to help with a diaper drive, a Wear Blue Day show of support and a no-pressure information session for anyone considering foster parenting.

The diaper drive runs May 11 through May 15, with donations accepted at Life 97.3 on East Central Entrance, Lakeside Super One on East Superior Street, IST CrossFit on West Michigan Street and Reid Strelow State Farm on Richard Avenue. Organizers also said people can buy diapers online and ship them directly to the nonprofit at 1028 East 8th Street in Duluth.

Wear Blue Day is set for May 13 as a visible sign of support for children and families affected by foster care. For New Hope for Families, the message is practical as much as symbolic: small donations can help keep foster homes stocked, and a single outreach event can connect a child to a more stable start.

That same week, New Hope for Families will host a Foster Care Interest Meeting on May 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at its Duluth office. The nonprofit describes the session as a no-pressure chance to learn how to become a licensed foster parent and what support is available. People who want to explore fostering in St. Louis County can also contact foster care licensing at 218-725-5188.

The group says it supports more than 95 families across St. Louis County and Carlton County. Co-founded in 2019 by Jim and Therese Gruba and Joe and Briar Fischer, New Hope for Families says its mission is to build a community of support for foster, adoptive and kinship families. Its services include a kids’ closet, playdates, support groups, foster family fellowship meetings, respite-related help and a visitation space called Room to Breathe.

Alicia Ligman, who spent more than 16 years as a foster parent, said the experience changed her life and shaped her family. She and her husband once thought they would never take a teenager, but their first placement was a teen who is still part of their lives decades later.

The push comes as Minnesota continues to rely heavily on foster and kinship care. State figures show about 9,880 children and youth spent at least one day in out-of-home care in 2024, while the average number in care on any given day fell to about 5,865, down from 8,499 in 2020. In 2024, 66% of children in family foster care were placed with relatives, 58% of those leaving out-of-home placement reunited with parents and 24% achieved permanency with relatives. Minnesota’s Northstar Care for Children program is designed to help more children grow up in safe and permanent homes by simplifying foster and adoption assistance programs.