Meeting the Moment: How The Hands and Feet is Transforming Foster Care Support

Charity Influencer: Lori Griffith

Every great nonprofit begins with a call to action, and for sisters Bailey Hughes and Makayla Doolin, that call came late one night in the form of three traumatized children in desperate need.

A former foster mom and now adoptive mother of four, Bailey had already seen the many gaps in the foster care system. So when a foster family received an emergency placement of three children, foreign-born, trafficked, and found abandoned in a parking lot. Bailey and Makayla sprang into action. On a whim, they delivered clothing, baby gear, food, and even coloring books in the children’s native language to help bring comfort to an unimaginable situation. Over the following days, more requests came in and the sisters kept showing up.

From that act of compassion, The Hands and Feet was born.

Bailey Hughes (left) and Makayla Doolin (Right) Creators of Hands and Feet

Dubbed a “DoorDash” for foster families, The Hands and Feet is a nonprofit organization that delivers essential items within 48 hours to children affected by the child welfare system. Their mission is simple but powerful: to change the way children experience foster care by meeting their immediate physical needs with dignity, speed, and care.

While other organizations may offer similar support, what sets The Hands and Feet apart is their swift response and hyper-local focus. With a dedicated team of eight and a growing army of volunteers, they collect and distribute everything from diapers, hygiene products, and pajamas to strollers, car seats, and comfort foods, often the very things that make a world of difference during a traumatic transition.

Their impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Hands and Feet received the Susan D’Eusanio Outstanding Nonprofit Advocates for Children Award through Florida Children’s First, and Bailey was honored as Palm Beach Atlantic University’s 2023 Alumna of the Year. The organization was also recognized by Governor Ron DeSantis as one of 75 named Florida Heroes, an honor that included an invitation to the Governor’s Mansion. Director of Operations, Ciarra Smith, has also been celebrated nationally, receiving the Rising Star Award at the Nonprofit Legal, Finance, and Grant Conference in Washington, D.C.

Through compassion, innovation, and a fierce dedication to children in crisis, The Hands and Feet is reshaping what community care looks like, one delivery at a time. To volunteer or support their mission, visit thehandsandfeet.org.