Christmas Store Drive 2025
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:
1.) 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 $10
Email jarred@joymeadows.org to schedule drop-off of items by December 5 so they can be available for children at our Christmas Event.
Simple Option: Purchase items from the General Store Amazon List to have them directly shipped to Joy Meadows. Scan the QR Code below for link.
Youth • Animal Day Camp
Animal Day Camp
(completed 6th-11th grade)
October 25, 9am-12pm
Calling all animal lovers! Animal Day Camp is a fantastic chance for kids to get time with our barn animals, learn new abilities, and see how animal interactions can teach us biblical truths. During camp we will:
Work with our equines (the little ones and big ones!)
Make new animal loving friends
Study the Bible together with interactive lessons and worksheets
Animal Day Camp is open to all foster and adoptive youth, and biological children in families that foster.
Second Saturday
Second Saturday is a monthly gathering for all foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Caregivers feel connected, encouraged, and supported while children engage in all the fun, outdoor activities at Joy Meadows.
Every Second Saturday features dinner for the whole family, and these four stations give predictability and fun for the children to look forward to:
Barnyard - pet the goats and donkeys, or enjoy a ride on a horse;
Nature - harvest in the garden, participate in a nature activity from planting to building or a nature trail scavenger hunt
Art - monthly themed craft in the art studio
Big Fun - Enjoy the Bouncing Pillow, barrel train rides, gaga ball, 9-square, and playground.
The Clothing Closet is always open for families to shop for needs.
Everyone is welcome to attend Second Saturday - please register every month so we can ensure enough food and supplies for your family!
Second Saturday Christmas Party • Lunch
Second Saturday is a monthly gathering for all foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Caregivers feel connected, encouraged, and supported while children engage in all the fun, outdoor activities at Joy Meadows.
In December we have two Christmas Party options due to the colder temperatures and increased attendance. Please register for which time is best for your family:
Lunch Christmas Party • 11am-1pm
Dinner Christmas Party • 5-7pm
For our December Christmas Second Saturday, activities include:
General Store
Children get to pick out a gift for someone special, then go to the gift-wrapping station and wrap their gift.Christmas Craft
Kids create a Christmas craftCookie Decorating
Decorate Christmas cookies and enjoy the hot cocoa barPicture with Santa
Get your picture with Santa, enjoy Christmas music, and hear a Christmas story
The Clothing Closet is always open for families to shop for needs as well.
Everyone is welcome to attend Second Saturday - please register every month so we can ensure enough food and supplies for your family!
Second Saturday Christmas Party • Dinner
Second Saturday is a monthly gathering for all foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Caregivers feel connected, encouraged, and supported while children engage in all the fun, outdoor activities at Joy Meadows.
In December we have two Christmas Party options due to the colder temperatures and increased attendance. Please register for which time is best for your family:
Lunch Christmas Party • 11am-1pm
Dinner Christmas Party • 5-7pm
For our December Christmas Second Saturday, activities include:
General Store
Children get to pick out a gift for someone special, then go to the gift-wrapping station and wrap their gift.Christmas Craft
Kids create a Christmas craftCookie Decorating
Decorate Christmas cookies and enjoy the hot cocoa barPicture with Santa
Get your picture with Santa, enjoy Christmas music, and hear a Christmas story
The Clothing Closet is always open for families to shop for needs as well.
Everyone is welcome to attend Second Saturday - please register every month so we can ensure enough food and supplies for your family!
Elementary • Animal Day Camp
Animal Day Camp
(completed 2nd grade-5th grade)
August 30, 9am-12pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
Second Saturday
Second Saturday is a monthly gathering for all foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
This Second Saturday is our back-to-school event with lots of FREE Stuff for the new year.
Backpacks
School Supplies
Haircuts
Clothes
Caregivers feel connected, encouraged, and supported while children engage in all the fun, outdoor activities at Joy Meadows.
Every Second Saturday features dinner for the whole family, and these four stations give predictability and fun for the children to look forward to:
Barnyard - pet the goats and donkeys, or enjoy a ride on a horse;
Nature - harvest in the garden, participate in a nature activity from planting to building or a nature trail scavenger hunt
Art - monthly themed craft in the art studio
Big Fun - Enjoy the Bouncing Pillow, barrel train rides, gaga ball, 9-square, and playground.
The Clothing Closet is always open for families to shop for needs.
Everyone is welcome to attend Second Saturday - please register every month so we can ensure enough food and supplies for your family!
Joy Run 2025
Open to all, Joy Run is an annual mud run that brings the community together to raise awareness and funds for foster children and families.
K-1st • Nature Camp
Nature Camp
(Kindergarten-going into 2nd grade)
July 26, 9am-12pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
More details about Outdoor Adventure Camp
Elementary • Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
Elementary Camp
(completed 2nd-5th grade)
July 15-18, 9am-3pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
More details about Outdoor Adventure Camp
Second Saturday
Second Saturday is a monthly gathering for all foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Caregivers feel connected, encouraged, and supported while children engage in all the fun, outdoor activities at Joy Meadows.
Every Second Saturday features dinner for the whole family, and these four stations give predictability and fun for the children to look forward to:
Barnyard - pet the goats and donkeys, or enjoy a ride on a horse;
Nature - harvest in the garden, participate in a nature activity from planting to building or a nature trail scavenger hunt
Art - monthly themed craft in the art studio
Big Fun - Enjoy the Bouncing Pillow, barrel train rides, gaga ball, 9-square, and playground.
The Clothing Closet is always open for families to shop for needs.
Everyone is welcome to attend Second Saturday - please register every month so we can ensure enough food and supplies for your family!
Elementary • Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
Elementary Camp
(completed 2nd-5th grade)
July 8-11, 9am-3pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
More details about Outdoor Adventure Camp
High School • Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
High School Camp
(completed 8th-11th grade)
June 17-20, 9am-3pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
More details about Outdoor Adventure Camp
Middle School • Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
Middle School Camp
(completed 6th-8th grade)
June 10-13
9am-3pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.
More details about Outdoor Adventure Camp
K-1st • Animal Day Camp
Animal Day Camp
(Kindergarten-going into 2nd grade)
May 31, 9am-12pm
Calling all animal lovers! Animal Day Camp is a fantastic chance for kids to get time with our barn animals, learn new abilities, and see how animal interactions can teach us biblical truths. During camp we will:
Work with our equines (the little ones and big ones!)
Make new animal loving friends
Study the Bible together with interactive lessons and worksheets
Animal Day Camp is open to all foster and adoptive youth, and biological children in families that foster.
Fall Serve Day
Join us for the Fall Serve Day! This is a great time for groups to sign up for a Group Volunteer project, or individuals and families are welcome too! We need your help to get Joy Meadows ready so we can serve our amazing foster and adoptive youth throughout the fall season.
K-1st • Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
K-1st Outdoor Adventure Day Camp
(K-going into 2nd grade)
Saturday, July 27
9am-12:30pm
The Outdoor Adventure Day Camp provides new enrichment experiences, relational connection, and just plain old outdoor fun for students who are adopted or currently in the foster care system!
A child may attend one camp session per summer.