Christmas Store Drive 2026
Children impacted by foster care have few opportunities where they are provided with dignity, choice, recognition and control. They have many people in their lives who they care for deeply, and little opportunity to extend generosity or recognize that relationship in a tangible way. That’s why we have an annual Joy Meadows General Store!
Every December, Joy Meadows hosts a Christmas event for over 500 foster and adoptive children. It is full of fun activities for the children, but the main event is the General Store. Children get to “shop” and pick out new gifts for someone that they love. They get to wrap the gift with care and create a personalized card. It is amazing to see their joy in getting to select something for someone else.
Here is how you can help provide that joy through a General Store Gift Drive:
With your team, organization or volunteers, collect donations of new gifts that cost $10. This can be done at an event or an ongoing basis that works for your team. Think of gift ideas your children would buy for a mom, dad, brother, or sister. A few examples include:
• For mom: candles, lotion, journals, spa gifts, blankets, socks
• For dad: gloves, hats, card games, shaving kits, sports items, coffee
• For siblings: games, arts and craft kits, sensory items, toys, hats/gloves
• For everyone: gift cards to various stores for $10Email Jarred to Drop off items by December 7th so they can be available for children at our Christmas event.
You may also purchase items from the Amazon Registry List to have them directly shipped to Joy Meadows.
Animal Day Camp • Middle & High School
Animal Day Camp invites animal-loving kids to spend hands-on time with barn animals, build new skills and friendships, and explore biblical truths through interactive lessons. Open to foster and adoptive youth, and biological children in fostering families.
Cancelled • Animal Day Camp • Elementary
Animal Day Camp invites animal-loving kids to spend hands-on time with barn animals, build new skills and friendships, and explore biblical truths through interactive lessons. Open to foster and adoptive youth, and biological children in fostering families.
Animal Day Camp • Elementary
Animal Day Camp invites animal-loving kids to spend hands-on time with barn animals, build new skills and friendships, and explore biblical truths through interactive lessons. Open to foster and adoptive youth, and biological children in fostering families.
Middle School • Nature Camp
A trauma-informed Nature Camp near Kansas City for middle school youth in foster care (grades 6–8). Campers engage in choice-based, sensory-rich activities including animal care, trail exploration, scavenger hunts, and a collaborative low ropes course that builds confidence, regulation, and healthy peer connections. Registration is $15 and includes a camp t-shirt, all meals, and snacks.
High School • Weekend Retreat
A restorative weekend retreat near Kansas City for high school youth in foster care. Students slow down and reconnect through nature, animal interaction, team-building, creative reflection, and water activities like swimming, fishing, and kayaking. This is a non-overnight retreat. Registration is $15 and includes snacks and Saturday breakfast and lunch.
Elementary • Nature Camp
A trauma-informed Nature Camp near Kansas City for children in foster care who’ve completed grades 2–5. Campers engage in sensory-rich, choice-based activities like caring for animals, exploring trails, scavenger hunts, and a collaborative low ropes course that builds confidence, regulation, and connection. Registration is $15 and includes a camp t-shirt, all meals, and snacks.
K-1st • Outdoor Adventure Camp
A half-day Outdoor Adventure Camp near Kansas City for children in foster care and adopted children entering kindergarten through 1st grade. Campers enjoy age-appropriate outdoor activities designed to build connection, confidence, and joy in a supportive environment. Registration includes snacks, meals, and lots of fun. One camp session per child each summer.
Elementary • Outdoor Adventure Camp
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and outdoor fun. From barn animals and horseback riding to gardening, cooking, lake adventures, art projects, and good old outdoor fun, this experience is packed with hands-on activities that invite kids to explore, create, and play all day long.
Elementary • Outdoor Adventure Camp
An Outdoor Adventure Day Camp in Kansas City for children in foster care who’ve completed 2nd–5th grade. Campers enjoy animals, gardening, kayaking, art projects, and classic camp fun in a relational 4:1 environment. Registration is $20 and includes a camp t-shirt, all meals, and snacks.
Backyard Bible Club
Joy Meadows is partnering with Greenleaf Performance Academy and the Kelly family to bring this event to you! We will spend or morning at Joy Meadows then head to Kelly Cove in the afternoon for some lake time and then The Greenleaf team of students lead the kids in songs, a Bible skit, snack and small group activity on the lawn.
Middle School • Outdoor Adventure Camp
A summer Outdoor Adventure Day Camp in Kansas City for children in foster care who’ve completed 6th–8th grade. Campers enjoy animals, gardening, kayaking, art, and classic camp fun in a highly relational 4:1 environment. Registration is $20 and includes a camp t-shirt, all meals, and snacks.
Joy Run 2026
Join the Challenge. Support Foster Care.
The Joy Run is a fun, family-friendly obstacle run that brings our community together to support children and families impacted by foster care.
Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation helps fuel the work of Joy Meadows—providing stability, healing, and community support for children in foster care and the families who care for them.
No experience needed. Just show up ready to move, laugh, and be part of something meaningful.