Fostering the Family: Volunteer Spotlight

Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries is on a mission to change the landscape of foster care in mid-Missouri, and we can’t do that without the help of our community. Our volunteers are essential to this mission. One of our amazing volunteers, Andrew Ahrens, is a college student who is part of our “Foster the Family” initiative.

“I am a friend, mentor, and big brother to two brothers here in Columbia who are in the foster system,” Andrew shared. “We go on hikes, play board games, watch movies, go out to eat, and hang out. It has been amazing to be able to be a constant for them and to be their friend.”

Andrew is a junior at Mizzou who is originally from St. Louis. His family started fostering in 2013, and has cared for 11 children on a long-term basis, and provided respite care for 47 children. Andrew initially volunteered at a Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries event at The Crossing Church in Columbia, and he has been involved ever since! In addition to mentoring two brothers, he also helps with childcare at respite events and at our Columbia support group.

“I have seen him interact with children, and he has an incredible ability to connect and engage with them,” one of our Family Advocates, Lisa Parrish, observed.

“I am passionate about foster care because I want to let kids in the system know that they are loved, valued, and desired, despite coming from or being in difficult situations,” Andrew shared. “My favorite memory with the two brothers [I mentor] is going to the younger one’s musical where he played the main character of the production. It was really sweet to be able to support him and for him to know that he had a friend in the audience who cared about him and would show up for him during his proudest moments.”

Andrew shared that being a sibling to children in foster care has changed his outlook on life, as well as his plans for the future.

“I would say that I am a better person because my parents chose to foster kids,” Andrew said. “I learned just how much I take for granted and that people can’t control the environment they are raised in. My siblings and I all plan to foster and/or adopt in the future because of [our experience].”

Fall Equine Sessions at Overton Arena

This fall, we have two completely full equine sessions, which means that 56 children will participate in our equine sessions! During each session, children start out by getting to know their horse. After learning the ground rules of how to approach a horse and the importance of staying calm, they learn how to brush and […]

Maintaining Sibling Bonds

In the foster care world, there is huge value in maintaining biological relationships. We all have an innate desire to know where we’ve come from and who we are connected to. That’s one reason why we place such an emphasis on keeping sibling groups together. Two of our families in Moberly have created an amazing […]