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If you have ever had the honor of being present at the birth of a child, you know how special, moving and miraculous that experience is. Witnessing the loving parents hover over every need that a little baby has is one of the most tender and beautiful moments in life. “Are they getting enough milk?” “ Do you think he's warm enough?” “Is her poop supposed to be that color?” Every comfort and need the newborn has is met by loving parents, family, dedicated nurses, and doctors. Sadly, some babies that come into foster care do not have the same beginning due in part to the challenges their parents face such as, drug and alcohol dependency, domestic violence and mental health hurdles.
Five proactive foster moms decided to try and make a difference in the lives of all those that enter into the foster care system, especially the children. They opened Straight From The Heart Resource Center on April 1, 1998. The resource center includes a thrift store in a strip mall located in a sleepy little San Diego suburb called San Marcos, CA. The facility has been regularly rented by a local college to host required training courses for current and future foster parents. Over the past 26 years, they created a place that quickly became the heart center for foster families throughout the area. Today, there are foster/adoptive parents, retired social workers and wonderful members of our community who believe in the vision of SFTH. SFTH is 100% a labor of love and true grass roots volunteerism at work. There is no salary. Not a penny. Just love and hard work and commitment to make it better for the children who need and deserve the support and love of the community and the people who step up to care for them. Through the generosity of many churches, businesses and community members -- clothing, toys, books, bikes, and home goods fill the racks at the thrift shop. Please visit our donation page and discover ways to donate today. Every dollar makes a difference! |
When COVID hit, facility rental -- the primary source of fundraising -- came to abrupt halt. In-person classes were discontinued and our primary source of funding evaporated overnight. For 14 long months, the center and shop were closed. The situation became grave. Again, through kindness, the help of volunteers, countless hours writing grant proposals, and so much love -- the little shop was saved! Classes remain in virtual mode and the shop is now the primary source of ongoing fundraising.
A TRUE STORY... THE TINY LITTLE SHOP
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I’d like to tell a story of the Tiny Little Shop,
That helped some kids and moms and dads until they had to stop. It started oh so long ago with blood, and sweat and tears, It’s sad to know that it would end after serving 22 years. We want you all to know about The Tiny Little Shop, and how it came to live one day before it had to stop. Hopefully, this story will not make you sad or cry, Just know that all the love inside it’s walls will never die. A group of women talked for days about what could be done, To help support the children who from foster care had come. They figured they would need some funds to make this dream come true, So they put their heads together and decided what to do. Brownies they sold at soccer games and people ate them up, But the money the women gathered, barely filled a cup! They did a market shopping game to earn some bigger bucks, But sadly it barely made enough to fill a second cup! These women would not be deterred until they did their thing, A fundraiser did come their way and made them want to sing! Now all the brownie baking, thankfully could stop They finally had the money for The Tiny Little Shop! |
So through the years the shop became a second home to all.
It truly was a refuge for all people big and small. They built the things that they could give and kept an open door, To welcome all the children who were truly at the core. But a sadness came to town one day and no place was immune, The sickness covered all the earth and left a giant wound. The shop soon closed to keep all safe and sadness filled the air, Soon it was clear without some help the shop would not be spared. Tears were shed and hearts were torn at the thought of such a loss, Sadness covered every person that they came across. Things were moved out from the shop to empty all the shelves The women worked to give the shop away to someone else. Things can seem so dreadful in the middle of the night, We forget with work and love that there is always light! For nine long months the shop was closed the situation grave, Through kindness, help and so much love, the Tiny Shop was Saved! |
