News

AUSTIN, TX (May 7, 2021) -- Foster Village, the local nonprofit organization founded by foster moms in Austin, is putting foster moms first for Mother’s Day. In partnership with the Austin-based home organizing company Graceful Spaces, the two organizations gifted a local foster family a total laundry room transformation estimated at $5,000 just in time for the special day. 

"With all that foster moms juggle on a daily basis, we wanted to show them they have a whole community behind them,” said Chrystal Smith, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Foster Village. “It’s so important for us all to remember that we have the ability to share our unique gifts and talents to impact the lives of foster families in positive, meaningful ways this Mother’s Day, and every day.”

Moms have been hit hard by the pandemic, with 9 out of 10 mothers seeing their responsibilities at home increase since its onset, according to a recent survey Foster Village conducted, surveying 600 moms. More people at home has led to more chaos, with 69% of moms saying their home environments have become more cluttered since March 2020.

Cluttered environments can have a detrimental impact on mothers and families, with more than half (55%) of moms agreeing that disorganization in their homes has a negative effect on their mental health. Further, foster moms were 87% more likely to say the children in their care have experienced increased anxiety, depression, and/or mental health challenges due to the additional chaos and disruption to their routines brought on by the pandemic.

Virtually all (99%) of foster moms agree: household organization is even more important now than it was before they started fostering. When foster families feel organized in their home environments, that feeling of empowerment and safety spreads to other parts of their lives as well.

"In helping this deserving family by transforming their laundry room, it reinforced the importance of organization and the positive impact it can have," said Christina Lee, Co-Founder of Graceful Spaces. "We've seen first-hand how the right systems and solutions can empower a family and how that feeling of empowerment can manifest into feelings of comfort and happiness, which can be especially beneficial for children in foster care."

For more information on Foster Village, visit https://www.fostervillageaustin.org. For more information on Graceful Spaces, visit https://graceful-spaces.com/. 

ABOUT FOSTER VILLAGE

Foster Village is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by foster moms in Austin, TX. Their mission is to provide a village of support to children and families intersecting with the child welfare system by equipping them with critical necessities, connecting them with therapeutic services, and advocating for community engagement beyond the system. Foster Village serves over 2,000 children in the Austin area each year and their model is now being replicated nationwide. 

ABOUT GRACEFUL SPACES

Graceful Spaces is a boutique home organizing company based in Austin, TX. Co-Founders Christina Lee and Rebecka Jodeit have built their business with a heart for inspiring simplicity and seeing families’ lives transformed through the power of organization. While their team is passionate about creating beautiful spaces, they’re equally invested in building systems and solutions to support their clients’ lifestyles and help them achieve their goals.