The Relative Caregiver Foundation - Bringing Peace of Mind

There is no pathway, no direction and no guidance to get through the maze. When parents are no longer able to care for their children, relatives can become lost and overwhelmed when they assume the responsibility and finances take a turn for the worse. They need a compass to help guide them to a helping hand.

That is when the Relative Caregiver Foundation steps in.

The RCF is a non-profit organization committed to helping relatives in need of support when raising the children. The RCF guides relatives through the complicated process of obtaining the financial support they need to buy food, provide clothing and to meet the basic needs of the children.

The foundation’s members have been through the struggles of raising children when the children’s parents were no longer able to care for them. It is their passion to make the process easier for people who find themselves in the difficult situation. They believe that because they have been through the hardships, it makes them better at what they do.

The members of RCF help each other as much as they strive to help families in need. They are each other’s support system in life and in work at the foundation.

“God brought us all together,” said Betty Nystrom, board member of the RFC.

Kim Weise, the president and director of the foundation, created the organization when she had to raise her grandchildren. There was no guidance in the court systems, and it was very difficult to find financial assistance. Because of her experiences, she started this foundation four years ago and has now helped more than 190 families and counting.

“We have done amazing things on no money,” Weise said.

She believes that when doors have been closed on her, God has showed her ways to overcome adversity.

One of the main ways the RCF reaches out to the community occurs on the second Wednesday of every month at the Trenton Library in Bell, Fla. The foundation opens its doors for families to come in and seek the help they need. At the meetings, members of the foundation talk with families and give them child-raising advice and point them in the direction of financial assistance.

Members also pass out fliers before the meetings to help spread the word. One of the main challenges that RCF faces is finding the families that need help.

Weise has worked hard to make the RCF well known throughout the community and in the state of Florida. The better known the foundation, the more people can get help, Weise said.

On Oct. 10, 2006, the RCF became Teen Court approved. Volunteers can contact the RCF through the school board system, and students can earn volunteer hours for school or scholarships. The RCF is also a member of the Gilchrist Country Chamber of Commerce.

The RCF makes it their mission to help everyone in need.

In partnership with Helping Hands of Jesus, the RCF has been helping to feed families for more than a year. Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community Center in Bell, Fla., 35-60 families in need can come and collect food items. The RCF distributes whatever food items it has, even if it is 87 boxes of Peeps Easter bunnies. The foundation is constantly looking to expand resources and bring in more food.

Seasonal and holiday celebrations help raise awareness of the RCF’s efforts and to bring smiles to the faces of children in need.

Last year for Christmas, the RCF gave out 165 stockings filled with toys — from the back of Weise’s Ford F-150. Families came from all over the area, including Cedar Key and Gainesville, to receive stockings. The stockings were made and donated by Spring House Quilters of Trenton, Fla., and the girls in Weise’s granddaughter’s Girl Scout Troup stuffed them.

In October, the RCF held its Fall Festival fundraiser, which also promotes awareness of the RCF. Cloudy and rainy weather did not dampen the fun at the Bell Town Park. For a $2 registration fee, families were invited to participate in fun and games and to win some candy. A cakewalk and apple bobbing were only a sampling of the activities available. To encourage creativity, there was a homemade costume contest. The winner received $25. According to Weise, more than 20 children and their families came out to enjoy the festivities.

One year, Weise painted two cardboard boxes and dressed her grandkids as dice for Halloween. She believes that idea would win any contest they entered.

This year, the RCF plans to have a Christmas party. The Helping Hands of Jesus gave the foundation a large Christmas tree and lots of decorations they hope to put to good use. The foundation also hosted an Easter egg hunt for the past three years and plans on having another one in the spring.

The RCF has a staff of talented and dedicated individuals. Relatives can find it challenging to stand up for the wants and needs of children facing an intimidating court system. The eight board members all share in the responsibilities of helping Weise create a voice for the children and their caregivers. The RCF assists relatives in finding the courage to stand up for what the child says and wants, especially when it comes to who the child will have care for him or her in the long-term.

The RCF will help any family in need. Basic information about the families’ needs is the only requirement for registration. In a week, the RCF can have as many as six new families seeking assistance.

“Our ultimate goal is to work ourselves out of a job,” said Stephanie Gregory, board member and Weise’s second in command. “If you have that attitude you can improve so many things.” §
For more information about the RCF, visit http://www.caregiverfoundation.com/index.htm.

Laura Kubitz is a student in UF’s College of Journalism. She may be contacted through the editor: editor@towerpublications.com.