We are honored to name The Hands and Feet, Inc. as the Rylee + Cru Foundation Grant Recipient for the month of March. The Hands and Feet, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in South Florida that supports children and families impacted by the child welfare system. They operate a hyper-local “DoorDash for foster care” model delivering essential items like clothing, car seats, diapers, and other needs directly to the homes of foster, kinship, and relative caregivers within 48 hours of a request. Beyond providing physical goods, the organization also offers emotional support from individuals who have experienced the foster care process. Its mission is to bridge gaps in the system and ensure that vulnerable children and the families who care for them feel supported, dignified, and valued by their community. The Hands and Feet serves Palm Beach County, Broward County, and the Treasure Coast in Florida, striving to deliver resources quickly while fostering community, connection, and care.
Read our Q&A with Co-Founder, Bailey Hughes, to learn more about The Hands and Feet, Inc. and their mission and impact.
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Q&A
Q. What inspired you personally to start The Hands and Feet, and how did your own experiences in the foster care system shape the organization’s mission?
A. The inspiration for The Hands and Feet really came from my own life. My husband and I became foster parents and over time we welcomed 23 children into our home and adopted four of them. Through that experience, I saw firsthand the incredible need that exists in the foster care system—not just for love and stability, but for very practical things.
Children often arrived at our home with almost nothing. Sometimes they came with a trash bag of belongings, sometimes with only the clothes they were wearing. And foster parents are expected to be ready instantly. In those early hours and days, families are trying to help a child feel safe while also scrambling to find clothes, shoes, diapers, car seats, beds—basic things a child needs.
I realized there was a huge gap between the moment a child enters a home and when resources are actually available. That gap creates stress for caregivers and instability for children who have already experienced so much upheaval. The Hands and Feet was born out of the desire to close that gap and ensure that when a child arrives in a foster home, that family has the support they need immediately.
Our mission has always been rooted in dignity, stability, and reminding children that they are seen and cared for in one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Q. Can you share a moment or story from the early days that made you realize The Hands and Feet was addressing a real, critical gap in support for foster families?
A. I remember the very first family we ever served, and that moment is really what showed me how big the need was.
One evening my sister Makayla and I heard about a foster family who had just taken in three children in the middle of the night—a 17-year-old girl, her one-year-old son, and her 14-year-old sister. The girls had been trafficked from another country and were found abandoned in a parking lot before being brought into the foster care system.
It was around 12:30 in the morning when we decided we were going to do something. We ran to CVS and grabbed anything we could find that might help—diapers, baby supplies, hygiene items, and basic essentials. Around 1:00 AM we drove to the foster family's home and dropped off what we had.
What happened over the next few days is what truly changed everything for me.
As the foster mom shared more about what the children needed, more items started showing up at her door. Clothing for the girls, baby gear for the toddler, coloring books in their native language, even specific foods that brought a sense of familiarity and comfort. Our community began stepping in one need at a time.
Watching that unfold made me realize something really important: foster families often say yes to children in crisis with almost nothing to help them in those first moments. When someone steps in to fill that gap, it changes everything for the family and the child.
That first experience showed me how powerful it could be when a community comes together around a family in crisis, and it’s what ultimately led to the creation of The Hands and Feet.
Q. The Hands and Feet is often described as “DoorDash for foster care.” How did you develop this delivery model, and why is it so effective in meeting families’ needs?
A. The idea really came from looking at how the rest of the world operates now. If someone can order dinner, groceries, or medicine and have it delivered quickly, why shouldn’t foster families have that same level of support when they’re welcoming a child into their home?
Many communities have foster closets, which are wonderful resources, but they require caregivers to leave their home, travel, and shop for items. That can be incredibly difficult when you have a newly placed child who may be scared, dysregulated, or adjusting to a new environment.
So instead of asking families to come to us, we go to them.
Our team works with caseworkers and caregivers to identify exactly what the child needs, and we deliver those items directly to the home—often within 48 hours of the referral. That model removes barriers, reduces stress on caregivers, and allows families to stay focused on helping the child adjust.
It also communicates something important to the child: someone prepared for them. Someone thought about them. Someone cared enough to make sure they had what they needed.
Q. What have been some of the biggest challenges in scaling the organization’s programs across Palm Beach County, Broward, and the Treasure Coast?
A. Growth has been both exciting and challenging. As the need has expanded across Palm Beach County, Broward County, and the Treasure Coast, we’ve had to constantly adapt our logistics, staffing, and infrastructure.
One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the speed and personal connection that make our program effective while serving thousands of children across multiple counties. Delivering items quickly requires strong systems, dedicated staff, reliable vehicles, and strong partnerships with child welfare professionals.
Another challenge is funding. While the impact is clear, much of what we provide is immediate, tangible support—clothing, car seats, cribs, diapers—and that requires ongoing resources and community generosity.
At the same time, the growth has shown us just how needed these services are. Each time we expand, the response from families and professionals confirms that the need has always been there.
Q. How does your team measure the impact of your services — both in terms of tangible resources delivered and the emotional support provided to families and children?
A. First, we track the tangible outcomes—how many children we serve, the types of items delivered, and the speed at which we respond to referrals. Since launching The Supporting Hands Program, we’ve served more than 12,500 children across six counties.
But numbers only tell part of the story.
We also gather feedback from foster parents, kinship caregivers, caseworkers, and even young adults who have aged out of the system. Again and again, they share that the support arrives at a moment when they feel overwhelmed or uncertain.
Many caregivers say that receiving these items helps stabilize placements and reduces the immediate stress of welcoming a child into their home. That stability can make a meaningful difference in a child’s transition and sense of belonging.
So while we measure logistics and efficiency, we also listen closely to the human impact behind those numbers.
Q. Looking ahead, what new programs or initiatives (like Waves of Healing) are you most excited about, and how do they extend your vision for supporting children and families in crisis?
A. One of the initiatives I’m most excited about is our Waves of Healing program.
While The Supporting Hands Program focuses on meeting immediate physical needs, Waves of Healing addresses something deeper—the long-term emotional and mental health needs of children who have experienced trauma.
Many families adopt children from foster care who have complex behavioral and emotional challenges. These families are deeply committed, but specialized therapies and supports can be expensive and difficult to access.
Waves of Healing will provide financial support to families so they can pursue trauma-informed mental health services that help children regulate, heal, and thrive.
For us, this program represents the next step in our vision. Meeting basic needs is critical, but true stability also requires emotional healing. By supporting both, we hope to strengthen families and help children move toward healthier futures.
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We are honored to support organizations that are making positive impacts in the lives of children (and families) across the nation who are impacted by the child welfare system. Submit an application to recommend a 501(c)(3) non-profit making a difference in your community and each month we’ll select one to receive a $10,000 grant in your name.
Thank you for joining us in this meaningful work.