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"We're going to dinner...all alone."

That simple sentence, spoken with sincere gratitude by a caregiver who was dropping off their kids for our most recent Parents' Night Out, sums up what this event is all about: sustaining families.

Foster Village regularly hosts Parents' Night Out at Austin Ridge Bible Church. And last month, thirty children arrived ready to play, explore, and connect. While trained volunteers created a calm and engaging environment, caregivers stepped away to rest, reset, and reconnect.

For some, it was their first date in months. For others, it was the first evening out since welcoming new children into their homes. One mom told us she hadn't been out at night in two and a half months. Another couple shared it had been a full year since they’d gone anywhere together without toddlers in tow.

One family, who continues to welcome children with complex needs, put it simply: they only get time together alone when Foster Village offers Parents’ Night Out.

This is the only place they can rest easy knowing their kids will be safe. They know our trauma-informed team understands. They know we show up prepared to handle baffling behaviors and big emotions. And they know their children are always met with care that is both compassionate and competent. 

These evenings are just a piece of the puzzle that sustains caregivers as they do the deep, difficult, and important work of caring for kids who've been through so much.

Our team, which has walked alongside several of these families for years, noticed something remarkable this last PNO: growth.

Children who’ve attended multiple Parents’ Night Outs are beginning to arrive with greater ease and confidence. There’s a lightness in the way they enter the space, a spark of trust in how they connect with others. Felt safety does that. So does consistency. Healing takes time, and this is the way it can happen. A village of support ensuring that caregivers are sustained so children can thrive.

Volunteers help create that space when they get involved. On this particular evening, friends from the National Charity League brought a steady presence and warmth. Carlea and Pepper, her therapy dog from Dog Training Elite, offered gentle comfort to kiddos, and regular childcare volunteers stepped up to help, too. The moments they share with the kids may seem small—games of Uno, shared snacks, playing together—but they’re the building blocks of trust.

Jen, our Director of Programs, reflected on what she saw in the precious kids who are part of this village:

“Several of those buddies were also at the previous two PNOs, and they're like different kids from when they were first placed. Calmer, happier, braver, kinder. We marveled at their growth, and it's a testament to their caregivers and a good dose of safety and security in an incredibly complex situation."

Parents' Night Out is one part of Foster Village’s approach to holistic support. It’s a rhythm we return to again and again, because caregivers can’t pour from empty cups. When caregivers are cared for, kids can thrive. And when the village shows up, families feel the impact for days, weeks, or even months afterward.

Want to help sustain families caring for vulnerable children? Whether you give, volunteer, or simply share this story, you’re helping make nights like this possible. Thank you for being a village of support for these children and families and so many more.