When Kristen Jones founded the Bloom House, she had one major goal in mind: to help vulnerable children know and feel love.

“My heart behind this is that we will engage the community, and that everyone would do something for just one kid,” she said. “[The Bloom House] is to just provide a resource for the agency and support the social workers and children.”

On Tuesday evening, Jones opened the organization’s doors to visitors for an open house. As guests walked around, they had an opportunity to learn about the resources provided by the organization. The Bloom House provides services to children and foster families such as art, music, cooking, woodworking and life skills classes, birthday and adoption celebrations,

clothing boutique, hygiene items, meals for foster families, new to care duffel bags, embroidered pillowcases, prayer support, mentors and discipleship.

“We want every child to have a family and for every child to know they belong somewhere,” she said. “I know that everyone can’t be a foster parent or adopt a child, but we all can do something. I think if we all do that and not just expect someone to do it, then we really will see change.”

Jones said she is always happy to provide information about the organization and its resources.

“Our doors are always open, and so I would hope people would come by anytime or check out our website,” she said. “We want people to support this so that we can continue to make a positive difference, because this isn’t about us.”

Aside from showing guests the resources Bloom House provides, Jones said three important aspects of the event were to speak about the need for financial assistance, volunteer help and prayer partnership.

“They can see how they can partner with us, whether that be financially or not, so that we don’t have to worry about how we’re going to make this run,” she said. “We don’t necessarily want to just recruit more people, but to make people know they can be in partnership in different capacities.”

Jones said just by being a part of the prayer partnership would help the Bloom House tremendously, because she knows from personal experience that there is power in prayer.

“The Bloom House has grown and bloomed simply by starting with a prayer,” she said.

In an effort to raise awareness during the open house, there were statistics and information on foster kids and the foster care system. Jones said raising awareness and ensuring the kids know that they are not alone and they are loved by God and by others is most important to her.

“I would love to raise more awareness. I would love to empower these kids and let them know that their voice matters,” she said. “I want them to know that they are here for a purpose and really be able to see that.”