We are thrilled to reveal Marion’s Angel Depot as the official name of our donation and distribution center located in South St. Louis County. We hosted a dedication ceremony on March 12th to recognize Marion Bradford for her steadfast commitment to our organization over the last eighteen years.

Marion, aka Dumpster Diva, Garage Sale Queen, Junking Pro, immersed herself with the organization immediately after our first home was purchased (in 2003). She was the Volunteer and Workday Coordinator Extraordinaire while we tackled the very daunting project of transforming the first Angels’ Arms’ house into a child-friendly, family home. Ever since then, Marion has remained involved by supporting the organization financially and collecting specially-themed items for our auctions, scouring sales and shops for baskets, and spreading the word about our mission. Her commitment and compassion make her one of the best volunteers any organization could dream of.  In March 2021, we honored Marion’s steadfast commitment to our mission by dedicating our donation distribution center in her honor and naming it Marion’s Angel Depot.

“Angels’ Arms captured my heart from the moment I attended their fall event 18 years ago and heard their message, I knew I wanted to be involved with this wonderful organization.  Founder Bess Wilfong projects such warmth and passion for the Angels’ Arms mission and inspires me to this day.  Volunteering with Angels’ Arms allows me to use my passion for “junking” as I scour the county for decor and projects to upcycle for their auction and their foster homes.  I am also proud that Angels’ Arms recognizes and utilizes the unique talents of each volunteer.  The efforts of those who mow lawns, paint rooms, provide family meals, donate boxes of cereal, plan birthday parties, and a thousand other things to support Angels’ Arms is so important.” – Marion

We are so excited to partner with our friends at Grace Meat + Three for their November Giving Grace Campaign!  A portion of each Giving Grace Plate purchased in the Month of November will Benefit Angels’ Arms.

Quarter Special Grace Plates – $13.50
Includes:
Quarter Bird – Rick’s Famous Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Johnny Cakes
& Collard Greens
*Feeds 1 Person

Family Special Grace Plates – $42.00
Includes:
Whole Bird – Rick’s Famous Fried Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Johnny Cakes
& Collard Greens
*Feeds a Family of 4

Order HERE: https://www.stlgrace.com/

It’s official…we have a new warehouse! The generosity of our community has forced us to acquire a larger space that will serve as our donation drop-off and distribution center. With close to 4,000 sq ft of space, we will be able to accept even more resources to support our foster families. Check out the LIVE tour we hosted on facebook!

We are kicking off our “Stock our Warehouse Campaign”, we are accepting your donations. We encourage you to rally your family, friends, coworkers, business, church, and school and host a drive on behalf of Angels’ Arms. Below is a list of our ongoing needs:

Food items:
– Cereal and breakfast foods – Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Honey Nut Cheerios,
Cap’n Crunch, Reese’s Puffs
– Breakfast foods – granola bars and oatmeal
– Pasta noddles, pasta sauce (in cans/plastic containers), chicken noodle soup, canned green beans and corn, rice
– Peanut butter and jelly, apple sauce, snacks (goldfish, pretzels, chips, popcorn, crackers)

Household Items:
– Paper Products (toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates)
– Laundry Detergent, dishwasher liquid, dish soap, and bleach
– Twin sheets 
– Dark towels

Toiletries:
– Toothpaste and toothbrushes (kids and adults)
– deodorant (men’s and women’s)
– pads and tampons
– shampoo, conditioner
– body wash and lotion

Diapers:
– ALL sizes of diapers 1-5 
– Pull-up’s – sizes 3T-4T and 5T-6T
– Adult depends (sizes S/M)

We will accept furniture on an as-needed basis. We cannot accept used clothing, books, and stuffed animals.

Contact Ashley Cook if you are interested in hosting a drive for any of the following categories and to schedule a drop-off.
Ashley@angelsarms.org or call 314-842-8400

We’re happy to announce that we have eight Life Launch youth who are enrolled at a local college or trade school and begin classes in mid-August. To help them start the school year on the right foot, we would like to make sure each youth gets a care package filled with the essentials.

Here are some care package ideas:

• A note of encouragement
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks/granola bars/candy/gum
• Self-help books for young adults 
• Gas Gift Cards to help them get to and from school
• Fast Food Gift Cards for those late night study sessions
• Target and/or Walgreens Gift Cards to help with school supplies and urgent needs

Below is a short bio about each college youth in our homes:

1. Jake, 22, is starting his 3rd year at Meramec where he will be taking classes in Construction Management. His plan is to transfer to a university next semester or in the fall of 2019. He is also working full time while he is in school. 
2. Josh, 20, is a sophomore at Meramec. He is taking his general education requirements before transferring to a university next fall. His plan is to get a degree to become a youth counselor.
3. Alan, 19, is starting the Dealership Automotive 2-year program at Ranken Technology. 
4. Jason, 18, is a freshman at Meramec. He plans on completing his general education classes before transferring to a university to pursue a medical degree.
5. Alex, 19, is starting the HVAC program at American Trade School where he will become a fully certified HVAC technician. 
6. Hannah, 19, is a sophomore at SEMO. She is pursuing a Nursing Degree.
7. Jaa’Kena, 19, is enrolled in the Crave Beauty Academy’s full-time cosmetology program. 
8. Faith, 19, is a sophomore at St. Charles Community College. Faith want’s to become a family lawyer. If you would like to send a care package to a youth, email Cassady@angelsarms.org.

Angels’ Arms is thrilled to announce that we’ve been selected as the Anders 2018 Charity of Choice. This year-long partnership will include numerous opportunities for employees of the firm to support Angels’ Arms though events and volunteer days.

In March, Anders hosted their annual Hoops for Hope event, raising over 15,000 in support of Angels’ Arms foster families. We’re grateful to the 700+ participants and dozens of sponsors who made this event a success.

Since 2009, volunteers with DenimQuilts have been sowing custom quilts for every new child that enters an Angels’ Arms home. The organization, led by Sally Safranski, uses donated quilt and jean patches to design beautiful custom quilts for foster children. The first quilt they ever made was gifted to a child in an Angels’ Arms home and to date, they’ve sowed 1,000 quilts for underprivileged children in our community, with 230 of those quilts going directly to children in our homes.

It takes between 25-40 hours to sew each quilt from start to finish. Each one features a personalized patch with the child’s name and their favorite color, sport or cartoon character. These quilt are special gift for our children, something just for them that they will get to keep forever.

The group will continue to make quilts as long as there is a need but they need fabric. Donations of flannel fabrics in solid colors, plaids, stripes and kid-friendly, but not infant prints, are accepted – four yards are needed for each quilt – as well as batting and mattress pads from non-smoking homes and fabric or craft store gift cards to purchase supplies.

For more information, find DenimQuilts on Facebook or email Safranski atsally.safranski@gmail.com.

Featured article on DenimQuilts in the Webster-Kirkwood Times

Are you a walker, jogger, runner and want to make a difference in the lives of foster children right here in St. Louis? Join Team Angels’ Arms for the 2016 GO! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend.

ALL fitness levels are welcome to participate in the 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay or the Full Marathon and your registration is FREE!! 

By joining Team Angels’ Arms, you will enjoy these fun perks: 

– Waived registration fees (savings up to $85)
– Moisture-wicking Team Angels’ Arms 2016 shirt
– Special Team Angels’ Arms 2016 swag bag
– Special high-performance running socks
– Exclusive discounts to Big River Running store
– Weekly tips and intensives (giveaways) to reach your fundraising goal
– Pasta Party the night before the 4/10 race
– Personalized fundraising page on Crowdrise.com

Sign up for Team Angels’ Arms TODAY via www.angelsarms.org.

Upon completion, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions on how to sign up with GO! St. Louis, complete with the FREE registration code AND details on how to set up for your personalized Crowdrise fundraising page.

Questions? Contact Maria Chandler: maria@angelsarms.org

  

A dear friend and long time supporter of Angels’ Arms recently passed away. The enthusiasm he brought to each event was something we’ll always remember. Dan was the first one to volunteer to sell tickets to the cooler of booze raffle at our fundraisers. He went to all of his buddies in Soulard to get gift cards for the auction. He wore beads and greeted everyone with the most radiating smile imaginable. And then there were the hugs and the kisses many of us were lucky enough to get.

He was a beloved employee at Anheuser Busch and his fellow co-workers honored him with a special toast and by wearing his favorite color, red. It was a beautiful moment which you can watch HERE.

You will always be with us, Dan. Your spirit will forever be among us. Thank you for showing us how to truly live  life, regardless of the challenges one faces.

Love,
Your Angels’ Arms Family

After many months of renovations, Angels’ Arms opened its newest foster home in July. Foster mom Kim Hergemueller and her fiance David will reside in the home with their eight year old daughter and up to five additional foster children.  Kim has been fostering for 13 years and to date has cared for close to 50 children. She was thrilled for the opportunity to join the Angels’ Arms family and move to a larger residence where she and David will be able to provide more children with a safe and loving place to call home.

The house was gifted to Angels’ Arms in 2014 by a very generous donor. This is the eleventh Angels’ Arms home and the third home to be located in the Ballwin, MO area. The other eight Angels’ Arms homes are located in South St. Louis City, South St. Louis County, Ferguson, Florissant and O’Fallon, MO.

The house renovations would not have been possible without numerous donors and volunteers who contributed thousands of dollars worth of labor and supplies to the project.

Special thanks goes out to the following individuals, groups and businesses:
Rick Winchester – Architectural Concepts
Two Men and a Truck
Kaplan University Learning Center – St. Louis
Mike Meyer
Mike Niedringhaus
Mike Bork
Tim Hessel
Tom Jaggie
Eric Verhulst and Friends
Trish Munson
Grace Bisaga
Marissa Lampley
Stacey Kee