Welcome to 2026 Welcome to a new year with Foster SQUAD! As we step into 2026, our team has finally caught its breath after another meaningful Operation Santa season and is already looking ahead to what’s next. While we’ve been a little quiet since Operation Santa, we’ve also been busy. Late last year, we made an exciting—and very big—step forward: Foster SQUAD moved into our very own office. This decision didn’t come lightly. For years, we operated out of our basements, shared spaces, and...

As we tie a bow on 2025, we want to pause and say thank you!! Because of your support, Foster SQUAD continued to show up for foster and kinship families across Iowa in meaningful, practical ways—especially in moments when support mattered most. Here’s what together we accomplished this year: Care Kits: Comfort in the Midst of Change In 2025, we distributed 703 care kits to foster and kinship families across Iowa, offering practical support during critical moments of transition. In the fourth...

Last year, we took a huge leap of faith and expanded Operation Santa into a statewide initiative — and what an incredible experience it was! Watching Iowans rally around foster and kinship families to create meaningful, joy-filled Christmas memories was nothing short of inspiring. In 2024, Operation Santa supported 2,616 kids from all 99 Iowa counties. Thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors, and volunteers, every one of those children felt seen, valued, and celebrated. We can’t wait to...