the defend mission & vision

Defend the Fatherless, a nonprofit foster care and adoption assistance support for York County.
 
 

Why we have such a passion to help…

Our organization was founded with the goal of lessening the burdens of foster and adoptive families in our community. We hope to be one more reason to say, “Yes” to the Fatherless. As we work to live out the scripture verse James 1:27, Defend the Fatherless aims to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and financial needs of the families we serve. 

Caitlin Sund, president of Defend the Fatherless Inc., always had a heart for children, especially those without a family to call their own. Caitlin and her husband, Brad, adopted their youngest daughter from an orphanage in China in 2013.

After the adoption, Caitlin took short term mission trips to China to serve as an occupational therapist in orphanages. Deciding to do more for local foster and adoptive communities, knowing their struggles first hand, she started the York County Foster Closet, where foster and adoptive families can get the necessities they need for free.

The York County Foster Closet provides items such as baby equipment, car seats, diapers, furniture, clothing and gift cards. 

In 2019 it became apparent that the needs of our local foster and adoptive families go beyond meeting physical and tangible needs.  The families are feeling isolated and are seeking community.

Many of the children the volunteers at the foster closet serve have been in and out of school and are struggling to make passing grades. Parents, siblings and the the foster and adopted children are facing trauma and need counseling to help them through the unique challenges they face.  Moms and dads report they are seeking like minded friendships. This is where Defend the Fatherless began, a natural expansion going beyond just physical necessities, providing support and community for the emotional, educational, financial and spiritual needs of the families DTF serves.

and we need your help

would you consider a donation of any size?

We accept donations of money, property, infant and children clothing, car seats, cribs, diapers, etc.