September is National Kinship Care Month, a time to celebrate the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends who step up for children in need. At Step Up Parents, it’s the perfect time to honor these caregivers and to rally around them as a community.

We’re just weeks away from our biggest event of the year, Step Out and Step Up: An Evening to Benefit Kinship Care! On September 20th, we’ll gather in Portsmouth to celebrate kinship families and raise critical support for their journeys. There’s still time to get tickets!

This newsletter is filled with stories of resilience and generosity that highlight the spirit of National Kinship Care Month, from an inspiring kinship care journey, to the perseverance of our board member John Sheedy, to the incredible support of our partners.

We hope you’ll join us, whether in person at Step Out and Step Up or by supporting from afar, in showing kinship families they are not alone. Together, let’s make this Kinship Care Month one to remember!

Cassandra’s Kinship Care Story: Welcoming a “Bonus-Baby”

Just three days after Cassandra’s niece L was born on Easter morning, she and her husband took her in. L had been born with fentanyl and high amounts of methadone in her system, and Cassandra knew she needed a safe, loving home.

Already parents to two young boys, eight and four, they became a family of five overnight. Step Up Parents was able to help with a grocery card and payment toward their gas bill.

“This program really makes a difference in people’s lives,” Cassandra shared. “It helps a lot with trying to manage everything now being a family of 5 with a bonus-baby!”

Stories like Cassandra’s are at the heart of National Kinship Care Month: reminders of the everyday heroes who step up to provide stability, love, and hope.

There’s still time to get tickets!

We’re delighted to gather our community together at our inaugural fundraising event, Step Out and Step Up: An Evening to Benefit Kinship Care, on Friday, September 20th, at The Venue at Portwalk Place in Portsmouth, NH. This evening will bring together special guests, community leaders, supporters, and friends for a meaningful night of giving, including dinner, dancing, and entertainment with an awesome DJ — all in service of strengthening families in need. We’d love for you to join us and be part of this special night, along with your family members, friends, and colleagues!

As we celebrate National Kinship Care Month, this event is more than a fundraiser. It’s a chance to shine a light on kinship caregivers and honor the critical role they play in keeping families together.

Step Up Parents board member John Sheedy recently took on the legendary Leadville Trail 100 ultra marathon in Colorado: completing 62 of the race’s 100 grueling miles at high altitude, through storms, darkness, and steep mountain passes.

While the race didn’t go exactly as planned, John pushed through with grit, compassion, and no regrets, even pausing to help another runner safely over the summit of Hope Pass.

John’s journey of endurance and climbing mountains reminds us of the daily climb that kinship caregivers undertake. Just as John showed perseverance and heart in Leadville, the families we serve demonstrate those same qualities every day—overcoming challenges, supporting loved ones, and finding strength in community. Please join us in celebrating John’s achievement and honoring the resilience of kinship families everywhere!

At Step Up Parents, volunteers are integral to supporting kinship caregivers in New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Consider contributing your time and skills in the following roles:​

• Board Member: Provide strategic guidance and oversight by attending six meetings annually and actively participating in fundraising initiatives.​

• Advisory Committee Member: Offer your expertise to advise on organizational goals without the commitment of a full board position.​

• Mission Ambassador: Promote our mission within your networks, assist in fundraising events, and help expand our community outreach.​

Your involvement directly impacts the lives of kinship families. To learn more and apply, please visit our Volunteer Page.