Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation’s $2,500 investment will provide clothing, meals, and essential resources to foster families
RICHMOND, VA (July 27, 2026) – HopeTree Family Services has received a $2,500 grant from Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to help ease transitions for foster families in the Richmond region. The grant will provide clothing, hygiene items, small toys, and meals to children in foster care, while also assisting foster parents with essential expenses related to safety equipment, transportation, and school activity fees.
For many children in foster care, the transition can happen quickly and often comes during one of the most uncertain moments of their lives. Many arrive with few or no personal belongings and must adjust to a new environment, new routines, and new caregivers. By providing immediate necessities and ongoing support, HopeTree aims to help children feel safe, comfortable, and supported as they adjust.
“Our foster parents do the hard, everyday work of helping children heal,” said April Estrada, Director of Foster Care at HopeTree Family Services. “This grant allows us to come alongside them in practical ways; whether that’s clothing for a child arriving with nothing, help with transportation, or opportunities for kids to participate in activities that help them feel like kids. By reducing some of the financial and logistical burdens, we can help foster families focus on what they do best: providing stability, connection, and healing.”
The grant will also allow HopeTree to provide meals and care packages to foster families when a child is placed in their home unexpectedly. This additional support will help caregivers focus on caring for the child during those first critical hours. The enhanced support will increase foster parent engagement, reduce placement disruptions, and build greater confidence in trauma-informed caregiving.
With more than 6,000 children in foster care in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services, supporting foster families is essential to creating stability for children. Dominion Energy’s investment will help HopeTree continue strengthening foster placements and ensuring children in the Richmond area have access to safe, supportive homes.
About HopeTree Family Services
HopeTree Family Services empowers children and families through a variety of services designed to build hope, resilience, and strong futures. Through its Treatment Foster Care program, HopeTree partners with foster families to provide safe, supportive, and nurturing homes for children with specialized needs. Visit www.hopetreefs.org for more information.