Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Empowering Foster Families in our Community

Join us in making a difference for foster families in Aberdeen and surrounding communities!

Donate Now

Empowering Foster Families in our Community

Join us in making a difference for foster families in Aberdeen and surrounding communities!

Donate Now

About The Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Our Board

The Aberdeen Area Foster Closet was founded in 2022 by Amanda Mayer, Louise Schwab and Mary Keahey. Amanda started fostering in 2020 and upon her first placement, she found herself running out, trying to find items needed for her first placement with the new kids and her own in tow. This proved to be a stressful situation and upon visiting with Louise, they decided to do something to help foster families feel supported and be able to have a calm first few days, in what can be a very scary time for the kids coming into care. Together with the help of the community and local and surrounding DSS offices, foster families now receive 48 hour kits upon their placement with everything that a family would need for the age of child in their first 48 hours. Since then, the Foster closet has grown with the support of volunteers and additional board members. We now can provide just about anything a family would need for a new placement to include clothing, diapers, wipes, bottles, cribs, bedding, bouncers, high chairs, toys, etc. We also strive to provide a WRAP program to wrap around foster families so they feel supported, provide birthday bags for kids in foster care, Christmas gifts, foster parent nights out and foster parent appreciation events.

Meet the board members of the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Amanda Mayer President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Amanda and her husband, Allan, completed their foster parent training in the spring of 2020, shortly before expecting their first child, in April. They welcomed their first long term foster care placement into their home in October of 2020, where the kids lived for nearly 2 years. This time was more than fostering just the children, but fostering the family. The children were successfully reunified with their mom in the summer of 2022. Those two years left a huge impression on Amanda’s heart and a desire to help more foster parents during their placements and after. Amanda’s family was lucky enough to have church members supporting them and cheering them on during this difficult but rewarding season. Knowing the importance of being surrounded by community and having support, Amanda knew something more could be done. With the help of God and those he surrounded her with, Mary, Louise and Amanda stepped out in faith and created The Aberdeen Area Foster Closet.

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Louise Schwab Vice President

Louise and her husband, Carl Schwab have been married 26 years and live near Andover. Louise is a former home-school mom to her wonderful 8 children ages 8 to 25yrs old.

A few years ago one of her best friends was a foster mom. She was very overwhelmed with the kiddo in her care because of some traumatic injuries that occurred to the chi

Louise and her husband, Carl Schwab have been married 26 years and live near Andover. Louise is a former home-school mom to her wonderful 8 children ages 8 to 25yrs old.

A few years ago one of her best friends was a foster mom. She was very overwhelmed with the kiddo in her care because of some traumatic injuries that occurred to the child. In that moment, Louise saw the enormous need to help support foster parents and kiddos in their care. She realized these parents, and kids cannot do this journey alone. It's not only the physical needs that foster parents need help with. It's someone to talk to, a meal randomly dropped off, a few hours to watch kiddos so parents can have time to themselves, someone to wrap around these kiddos and show them unconditional love, to show these kiddos healthy relationships, and to let foster parents know they are appreciated and not alone.

Louise looks forward to helping connect the community with area foster families and kiddos in their care.

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Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Louise Schwab Vice President

Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Cheryl is a board member and currently serves as treasurer for the AAFC. She became interested in the group after hearing the wonderful things it does and knew this was something she wanted to be a part of. She

has been married to her husband Paul for 45 years. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren and she is

the Branch Manager of Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.

Heather Smith Secretary

Louise Schwab Vice President

Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Heather has been involved with the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet since 2023 and joined the board as secretary in 2024. She is a Realtor, wife and mother of 3. As a kid who grew up in foster care, she has a passion to help others in similar circumstances and hopes to make a difference by giving back to the community.

Join the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet in Making a Difference

Our Mission

To offer foster families, in and around Aberdeen, an opportunity to get the things they need to help enrich the lives of the children that have been placed in their care.

Our Programs

48 Hour Kits

Children can be placed into foster care for a multitude of reasons at any time, day or night. With the fear of the unknown, this time can be very scary and stressful for both the kids and the families they are joining. They often come with a few belongings or only the clothes they are wearing. That's where we step in. We are looking to help fill in the gaps that babies and children might need within their first 48 hours. Instead of worrying about clothing and personal hygiene items, foster parents can focus on the kids and doing their best to help everyone feel safe and secure in the midst of this transition.

The Closet

A place where foster families can come and get baby/toddler items, hygiene items and

clothing for the children they are caring for in their home. We also offer events, free

babysitting nights, freezer meals, and other resources that help foster families

connect and find support in caring for the children placed in their care!

WRAP Teams

Did you know that you don’t have to become a foster parent in order to make a huge

impact on a child in foster care? There are many ways to make a difference. The old

saying, “It Takes a Village” couldn’t be more true! Consider being part of a

Wrap-Team for foster families that could benefit from your knowledge and talents.

“WRAP” stands for Words of Affirmation, Respite Care, Acts of Service, and Prayer.

Possible services that could help offer relief to these families include, but are not

limited to: home/car maintenance/repair, meal prep, transportation of children to

visits, mentorship,grocery shopping/delivery, lawn maintenance, and babysitting.

Volunteer Needs

Closet Volunteer - Assist with organizing clothing, supplies, and other donations as they are received.

Event Volunteer - Assist with setting up, working, and cleaning up events for foster families. Examples would be Foster Parents Night Out or Foster Parent Appreciation Events.

Wrap Teams - Wrap Around consists of 5-10 families on a team supporting one foster family. The wrap team supports the foster family at least once a month for 6 months. The wrap team members are encouraged to support the foster family through words of encouragement, respite, acts of service, and prayer.

Ways to Give

We accept donations of clothing (limited to sizes we need), diapers, wipes, hygiene items, comfort items, and infant/toddler equipment. We also accept monetary donations and gift cards to be used for supplies, meals for the families, organization costs, and facility costs.

Please check our Facebook page for current donation needs or our Amazon wish list.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/DBIWV7NWZRKN?ref_=wl_share

Our Supporters and Foster Parents Speak

I want to give Kudos to the Aberdeen Foster Closet Board of Directors... These women work so incredibly hard and they are the ones that make it happen. I have never seen such dedication!

-Volunteer

I am so very thankful for the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet. They have helped our family on numerous occasions, not only with tangible support (clothes, furniture, etc) but emotional support by giving my husband and I nights off when we have really needed it through their Parents Night Out program. Once we needed a bed for a last minute placement and the volunteers were so hard working to get it quickly. As a foster parent it means so much to have a community of support to go to, instead of trying to do it all on your own. You can tell the Lord is working through this organization because of the love that is poured out through the volunteers words & actions. Thank you Foster Closet for all you do in this community!

-Foster Parent

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The Aberdeen Area Foster closet has been such a blessing to us! We have only been foster parents for about a year and since we became licensed we have felt welcomed and supported! From the 48 hour kits they provide to kids coming into care to me calling and saying "I have a little one coming, can I come shop?" and everything in between such as "do you have something I could borrow for the weekend for this baby to sleep in our camper?" to "I could use snow gear for this little guy" ANYTHING that I would need for these children, I can reach out and if they don't have it, they put a call out and get it! And they check in occasionally just to see how things are going and if we need anything.

The amount of foster family activities they put together for us is amazing too! I have met so many other foster families due to these get-togethers (for parents and kids) and it's been great knowing we are not alone and now because of these activities, I now know other foster parents I can reach out to as well as the ladies at the foster closet... we have truly found our village!

-Foster Parent

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To say I'm grateful for the Aberdeen Foster Closet is an understatement. Not only has the Closet been an essential savoir when emergency placements come with nothing but the clothes on their bodies, but they've also WRAP'd around our little foster family. Having their continued support with meals, school pick ups or things that seem small but have a huge impact has been such a blessing. As a single foster parent, I also genuinely appreciate the parent night out events, almost as much as my little's enjoy that playtime with other children, and the opportunities to socialize with other foster families.

-Foster Parent

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Upcoming Events

03/14/2025

48hr Kit Prepping

8AM

-

11:00AM

New Life Downtown Campus

Event Details

03/14/2025

48hr Kit Prepping

Come and help us get ready to pack 48hr kits. All ages are welcome to come and help!

8AM

-

11:00AM

New Life Downtown Campus

03/15/2025

48hr Kit Packing Day

9AM

-

11:00AM

New Life Downtown Campus

Event Details

03/15/2025

48hr Kit Packing Day

Come and help pack 48hr kits for emergency placements. All ages are welcome to come and help!

9AM

-

11:00AM

New Life Downtown Campus

Wednesdays

Foster Closet Workdays

6:15pm

-

7:15pm

New Life Downtown Campus

Event Details

Wednesdays

Foster Closet Workdays

Most Wednesdays we meet to sort through donations. If you would like to help, please send us a message so we know you are coming.

6:15pm

-

7:15pm

New Life Downtown Campus

Empowering Foster Families in our Community

Empowering Foster Families in our Community

Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Supporting Foster Families in Aberdeen

Through the Lens of Giving: Aberdeen Area Foster Closet in Pictures

About The Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Our Board

Meet the board members of the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Amanda Mayer President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Louise Schwab Vice President

Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Louise Schwab Vice President

Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Heather Smith Secretary

Louise Schwab Vice President

Cheryl Sivertsen Treasurer

Join the Aberdeen Area Foster Closet in Making a Difference

Our Mission

Our Programs

Volunteer Needs

Ways to Give

Our Supporters and Foster Parents Speak

Upcoming Events

03/14/2025

48hr Kit Prepping

8AM

-

11:00AM

03/14/2025

48hr Kit Prepping

8AM

-

11:00AM

03/15/2025

48hr Kit Packing Day

9AM

-

11:00AM

03/15/2025

48hr Kit Packing Day

9AM

-

11:00AM

Wednesdays

Foster Closet Workdays

6:15pm

-

7:15pm

Wednesdays

Foster Closet Workdays

6:15pm

-

7:15pm

Invest in The Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Connect With Us

Contact Us

Drop us a line!

Want to get involved?

Aberdeen Area Foster Closet

Hours