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FTF Vision

To Make a Lasting Difference in the lives of vulnerable children

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FTF Mission

To ignite churches and communities to support foster, adoptive and Kinship families

The purpose of the Anderson County Charter is to coordinate churches and volunteers to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families through community, tangible support, and advocacy.

The Anderson Charter operates as a local extension of Fostering the Family and exists to mobilize churches, volunteers, and community partners to serve vulnerable children and the families who care for them.

Fostering the Family Regional Manager

Anderson County

Missy Wright, Regional Manager

I was honored to join the Fostering the Family team in 2025. With a background in pediatric and adolescent nursing and advocating for the unborn, I’m passionate about caring for children who cannot care for themselves and believe the Body of Christ is called to provide them with safety, love, and spiritual guidance.

As a Family Support and Regional Development Coordinator, I have the opportunity to connect local churches with foster, adoptive, and kinship families to help meet their needs and support them in living out James 1:27. I’m a mom to two biological children and one child adopted after fostering, and our family loves serving our local church and community whenever we can.

Meet the Advisory Board

Jeff and Debbie Taylor

Jeff and Debbie attend Newspring Church in Anderson, SC. They have four adopted children, two biological children, four grandchildren and one child currently placed through foster care. They have fostered eight total children through the years.

Jeff and Debbie have a heart to inspire, equip and support other families in their foster/adoptive/kinship journeys. They are involved in a support group at their church for foster/adoptive/kinship families. In 2022, they starting volunteering with Fostering the Family in Anderson and Debbie has assisted Kim with many events. These include Shop with a Cop, Pastor Appreciation Breakfasts, DSS employees Appreciation, and Walk, Run, Roll.

Joseph and Amanda Nylund

Joseph and Amanda moved to the area a few years ago and began serving with Fostering the Family. Amanda leads a care community group for a local family to help meet their needs. They both enjoy being involved with planning events throughout the year with Fostering the Family.

Joseph and Amanda attend NewSpring Church in Anderson where they are a part of the foster/adoption group. They are currently in the process of adopting a child.

Audrey Renee Hall

Renee spent ten years in Youth Ministry before going home to be full-time mom to three active boys. She re-entered the work force working with students in the public school, notably working with at-risk teens at the alternative school. Renee’ then spent seven years as a Wellness Coordinator at a large tire corporation. She spent five years as a 4-H Youth Development Educator, teaching short-term classes to hundreds of students across four counties in the Upstate of South Carolina! She most recently served as AmeriCorps Healthy Futures Program Coordinator via the United Way of Anderson County.

Renee began fostering in June of 2024 and has a second foster placement as of July 1, 2025. She plans to continue working with youth/young adults and families, encouraging physical/mental/behavioral wellness, and making a difference in the lives of those around her!

Gary (Peewee) & Kathy Cleveland

Peewee and Kathy are active members of Little River Baptist Church in Honea Path, SC. They have 5 adopted children, ages 10-24, a new grandson born in October 2025 and one bonus daughter (age 40), that has blessed them with 5 grandchildren, ages 11-24, as well as 2 great granddaughters.

Peewee and Kathy became foster parents through DSS in 2015 . They fostered and adopted a teenager and sibling group of e between 2018 and 2020 They are passionate advocates for the whole family – biological, kinship, foster or adoptive. With a compassion for the lost and a focus on biblical discipleship, they both long to see families reconciled to God and serving those most vulnerable in their community.

In February of 2022, Peewee and Kathy completed their Family Lead Advocate training and in August of 2022, they partnered with Concord Baptist Church in Anderson, SC to launch the Chosen Family ministry. Since its inception, they have served on 2 care communities and along with their teenage daughter Amber, they have gone to numerous Anderson County churches and shared the Fostering the Family vision, encouraging churches to partner with FTF, serve their community and support families.

The Clevelands currently serve with the Anderson Fostering the Family chapter, assisting with events, fund-raising, and community outreach. Kathy serves on the Governor-appointed SC Foster Care Review Board and enjoys partnering with DSS and other local agencies to assist families in South Carolina. As a family, they regularly look for ways to anonymously bless others in their time of need.

Fostering the Family Provides Several Ways You Can Get Involved

Awareness

Fostering the Family holds awareness and recruitment events to educate the public. The purpose of each event is to raise awareness, recruit foster families, recruit Guardian Ad Litem volunteers, and most of all ask The Church to pray.

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Upcoming Events

March 14th – Run, Walk, Roll
March 31st – Shopping at the Foster Closet – 1st Baptist Belton and 1st Baptist Honea Path
April 25 – Stand for Children Prayer Walk & April 24 – Possum Trot Movie (FTF statewide event, Columbia, SC)
April 25th – Foster and Adoptive Parents’ Night Out – Concord Baptist Church
May 23rd – Foster/ Kinship/ Adoptive Picnic, play, and brunch at Grits and Groceries – First Baptist Honea Path
June 6th – Advocate and Pastor’s Wives Brunch
July 18 – Anderson Retreat
August 15 – FTF Fundraiser (FTF statewide event, Greenville, SC)
November 8 – Stand Sunday (statewide event)

Support Services

Foster Families have additional stress placed on their entire family. Children in foster care have monthly visits with their DSS case worker, placement agency, Guardian ad Litem volunteer, therapy, and court dates. Often children are behind in school. Many times foster parents work to provide the children in care with the same opportunities as their biological children, all contributing to extra stress. Support services help provide consistency through FAMs and Support Groups.

Local Churches who Offer Wrap Around Support (PDF)

Request a Care Community

Request to Volunteer on a Care Community Team/ Schedule a call to hear about ways to serve

Resource Network

Once biological parents have successfully completed their treatment plan, DSS requires a safe living space for their children to return to. To avoid the children going back into foster care, our Resource Network helps provide simple needs for these families. These include items such as beds, cribs, car seats, and adequate food. Additionally, children often enter foster care with only a few items, and foster families need help meeting their foster children’s initial needs. Fostering the Family works with local church ministries to build Resource Networks in SC. When a church already has an established ministry, together we can work on building a Network that focuses on meeting the needs of the general population BEFORE disruption of the family happens!

Download Local Resource Services

Foster/Kinship/Adoptive Recruitment & Growth

We work with foster placement agencies to provide support for foster families and assist with training and recruitment.

South Carolina (Midlands Approved Placement Agencies)

Connie Maxwell, Epworth, Growing Homes S.E. Lutheran Services, National Youth Advocate Program, Nightlight Foster Care Program, Oasis of Hope, Pinnacle Family Services, SAFY, SC YAP

Tangible Needs Portal

Foster/Kinship/ Adoptive Recruitment & Growth

We work with foster placement agencies to provide support for foster families and assist with training and recruitment.

South Carolina (Midlands Approved Placement Agencies)

Connie Maxwell, Epworth, Growing Homes S.E. Lutheran Services, National Youth Advocate Program, Nightlight Foster Care Program, Oasis of Hope, Pinnacle Family Services, SAFY, SC YAP

Download Local Resource Services

Tangible Needs Portal

One important way to meet needs locally is through our: Tangible Needs Portal Help a child take a step toward stability today. The Landing Platform provides a list of immediate needs of children, families, and young adults in the child welfare system. This is your opportunity to get involved in a child’s life: NOW!

Meet Local Needs

Join our Network of Churches

Bring Awareness to Your Church

Join a Foster, Adoption, or Kinship Support Group

Become a Guardian Ad Litem