An Iowa nonprofit organization that serves foster care families has launched an online hub to connect donations with the people who need them.
Foster SQUAD, based in Ankeny, has launched and expanded the reach of the eQuip Hub as a marketplace to connect foster and kinship families in central Iowa with donated items such as beds, cribs, dressers and nightstands.
Traci Schermerhorn, executive director of Foster SQUAD, said the need for such service has been present for a long time, because kinship families in particular are not necessarily expecting or prepared to take in a child from a family member or close friend.
And the sooner a family can have a child’s bedroom put together, the sooner they can focus on providing stability for the child and building a bond with them during the transition in their lives.
“As many families as need the help, we want to support them,” Schermerhorn said.
How does eQuip Hub work?
Foster and kinship families in Iowa can log in and create a profile on the website’s marketplace to request donations at equiphub.fostersquad.org/.
Families can connect directly with community members online and make arrangements to receive donated items, or items may be available at Foster SQUAD’s office, Schermerhorn said.
The online hub serves the needs of children of all ages, she said.
How many families has eQuip Hub served?
The eQuip Hub’s impact in central Iowa since its launch in early 2026 has included families in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Story and Warren counties, according to a news release from Foster SQUAD.
The Hub supported four families in January, three in February, 11 in March and 19 in April.
In May, Foster SQUAD expanded the hub to serve families in Black Hawk, Grundy and Tama counties as well.
How to help foster and kinship families in Iowa
In addition to donating items, people can support the hub with financial donations.
More information is available at fostersquad.org.
Foster SQUAD, founded in 2019, also provides care kits to children entering foster care and delivers Christmas gifts to foster, kinship and adopted children.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa nonprofit launches online hub to address needs of foster families
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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