Fostering Hope, Building Family: The Lovells’ Commitment to Children in Need

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Kate Lovell knew fostering was for her.

“I’ve been a teacher since 2003. I’ve had all these different kids, and I’ve loved having them all,” she explained. “I thought I would make a great foster mom.”

What she didn’t realize years ago? She and her husband Matt would make great adoptive parents, too.

“We started out just fostering, but the best part of this was growing our family,” she added.

Today, the Gainesville couple has three adopted children and two biological children. They’ve also welcomed over 50 foster children into their family since 2011.

Serving children in need comes with plenty of challenges, but Kate and Matt say it also includes plenty of chances to build close-knit relationships. 

“One thing that really surprised and changed me: I didn’t know you could love your foster and adopted kids just like you love your biological children,” explained Kate. “The day after we brought West, [our foster son who we eventually adopted], home from the hospital, I woke up sobbing. I felt like this was my child who I had birthed. Looking back, it was God preparing me. Eventually, we would adopt that baby. We didn’t know that at the time.

It’s not just vulnerable children who need the love of a family, though. Fostering and adoption also include extending love and compassion to the biological parents.

“This might sound harsh, but if you’re not ready to advocate for the biological family, too, then don’t [foster],” said Kate. “A lot of the parents I’ve worked with had horrible home lives themselves. They didn’t have what we had growing up. It just really pains me to hear people talk bad about bio moms.”

Every situation is different, of course. Some family situations may include abuse, and sometimes reunification might not be a possibility. But Kate said she always tried to connect with the biological families of her now-adopted children, as well as the families of their foster children. This included making time for extra visits, inviting the families to special events and more.

“My adopted kids will forever know — they’ll see proof in the pictures — that we really loved these people and treated them like they were human beings,” Kate added. “I can’t love my adopted kids without loving the fact that these biological parents created them.”

Over the years, the Lovells have worked with various agencies, and they’ve discovered what a difference it makes to have the support of people like Families 4 Families’ CEO & founder Wayne Naugle and Caseworker Kimberly Morgan.

“We know we can go to Wayne for anything, and we know we can go to Kimberly for anything. It’s really all about the people,” she said. “Those connections make the difference.”

Families 4 Families’ donors make a big difference, too. 

Their donations help make gift cards for meals and Date Night events possible – two things that are a big encouragement for foster families like the Lovells.

“It’s not just the meal. It’s knowing that people care about you and that you’re not alone. When donors can donate to make a gift card possible or a date night, that’s time we get not having to cook or time to spend one-on-one with our spouse,” said Kate. 

“Sometimes as foster parents, you can feel lonely and detached from the world. But for someone to act like you’re a superhero, it gives you wings. It helps you keep going.”

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Make a donation to Families 4 Families this year-end to empower more foster families like the Lovells.

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