Written by Amanda Coers – Though they are relatively new to the foster family scene, Matt and Leslie Krischke are already working hard to help improve the lives of local foster families. It is a ministry desperately needed for the community seeing doubling stats in the foster system.
Since 2013 there has been an alarming spike in the number of children placed into the foster care system in Brown County. Last year, Brown County was third in the state for number of removals per 1,000 children.
“We are at the epicenter of a local crisis. I know that sounds dramatic but the stats don’t lie. We need organizations serving these kids and the families they’re placed with, and in our area they are few and far between,” the couple posted on their ministry’s Facebook Page.
Most often, when a child is placed with a foster family, they come with very little possessions. With stretched-thin budgets, their foster parents are left to scramble to find clothing for growing bodies. Thrift shops with racks jammed full of dated clothing can leave children feeling second-hand themselves during an emotional transition period. The Krischkes want to help treat those children to a unique “shopping” experience with an upscale boutique where foster families can pick up clothes at no cost to them.
Coggin Avenue Baptist Church has partnered with the Krischkes and their new ministry, “Knit Together,” to serve children and the families hoping to show them love and stability. The church owns a small piece of property that was slated for demolition, but the Krischkes are now looking to remodel the residence into a by-appointment foster care clothing closet.
“It’s going to be set up like a boutique shop, not like a second hand store, so kids can come and feel special, instead of feeling forgotten. It’s a special place for them to shop at,” Leslie Krischke explained.
“When you get a placement, you get a call and then an hour later you have a new kid or kids in your home. We want to ease that transition by providing clothing for kids all ages,” she continued. “Our goal is to have volunteers put together care packages, working with agencies and CPS, and we’ll be able to bring these care packages to the families the night they get their new placement.”
Leslie and Matt are the parents of four children, with three biological and one adopted little girl. She was placed with them shortly after they were certified to foster, at the tender age of two weeks old. The couple adopted her after caring for the child for a year. Adoption is certainly near and dear to their hearts, as Matt’s brother was adopted as well as Leslie’s step father.
As they watched friends within their church walk through the foster care process, the couple felt ready to offer their own home to children in the area.
“God opened our eyes to the need. It’s not just the children who need help, it’s also the foster families who are often not seen,” Leslie said. “The burden they bear is significant, not only is it time consuming, it’s also advocating for children who don’t have a lot of people speaking up for them.”
The target date to open the Knit Together Boutique is November 1st, and it will take plenty of elbow grease and funding to get the worn out residence ready to serve. A GoFundMe account has been established for online donations to help with renovations.
You can learn more about their ministry on their Facebook Page.
