Micah’s Miles Mini Marathon

This month, 13-year-old Micah S., of Camas, and his family are inviting walkers, runners and rollers to complete a marathon with them—a mini marathon. Rather than enduring 26.2 miles, participants in Micah’s Miles Mini Marathon, taking place on May 21, will enjoy 2.62 miles along the Columbia River at west Vancouver’s beautiful Frenchman’s Bar. Micah has a genetic mutation that limits his movement, speech and development, but his family and friends have pushed Micah in his wheelchair many miles ever since he was just 2 years old, completing 38 (true) marathons together to date and raising over $80,000 for various charitable causes through their own nonprofit, Micah’s Miles. Registration for this year’s second annual Micah’s Miles Mini Marathon is $45, and includes a shirt, medal and swag bag. Funds will support Micah’s Miles’ mission to build inclusive communities where, as the organization’s website says, “everyone is welcomed for the unique value and perspective they bring.” Learn more at micahsmiles.org

By Sarah Mortensen

The call they’ve been expecting comes in. It could be in the middle of a workday, at dinnertime, or even the middle of the night. “Are you able to take a child?” they ask. The answer for foster parents is almost always yes; they know they signed up for surprises when they went through Core Training with the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF). One thing foster families learn in training is that the first 72 hours are crucial. A child who has been removed from their home and primary caregivers has already been through a lot. The trauma of separation combined with the fear of meeting new people makes the introduction with their foster parents complicated to say the least. The worry for their own family is often in the forefront of their mind while they wonder when they’ll get to see them again. Clothes, a backpack, and even special toys that may have brought them comfort are almost always left behind.

Brittany Clapp remembers picking up one of the more than 30 children she has fostered over the years and having to make a Target run to get some essentials on the way home. “When children enter foster care, they usually come with only the clothes on their backs because they don’t have anything, or due to safety,” she explains. Her three biological children and one adopted child were also with her, which made this a particularly inconvenient trip. She wanted to focus on the child, to give them comfort and encouragement, but instead her attention was split between thinking about what items she would need for the next few days for them while keeping her whole crew together—immediately after what was likely the worst moment of that child’s life.

Foster parents are currently given a $200 clothing credit for the children they take in, but in today’s world, that doesn’t go very far, especially for older kids and teens. As Clapp reached out to other foster families, she learned to “crowdsource” for clothes and other items she needed. Putting out a request on Facebook was the simplest way to learn what her circle of friends could contribute. Soon, Clapp was collecting and sorting clothes and handing them out to other foster families. Clapp says Cloth + Foster “began by accident.” She wasn’t out trying to create a nonprofit, but that’s just what happened. Cloth + Foster received its 501(c)(3) certification on November 30, 2022, but “IRS rules allowed us to [backdate] our founding to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) in 2020, making all donations since our founding tax deductible,” she explains.

Half of the large barn on Clapp’s property is dedicated to Cloth + Foster. Tall shelves hold bins of items sorted by size and gender, making it easy to find exactly what someone is looking for. In addition to clothing, 72-hour grab bags are ready to fulfil requests quickly. Clapp says her two primary goals are to “help [foster families] get to the loving part faster and to eliminate any barrier for a foster family to say yes to a placement or sticking with it.” Not only does Cloth + Foster serve foster parents, they also help the continued on next page continued from previous page families of origin as children are transitioned from foster care back home. On the website, there is a simple caregiver request form where families can ask for specific needs. “There is no limit on caregiver requests,” shares Clapp.

Cloth + Foster grew quickly and has almost outgrown the barn. Clapp is planning to build a dedicated (and heated) space that will allow for more volunteers to gather on site. In the meantime, they are always in need of new and gently used donations of clothes, toys, blankets and shoes. The whole operation began by word of mouth, so simply spreading the word to your friends helps Cloth + Foster in their outreach. They also appreciate help with washing donated clothes, many from local kid’s consignment shop Denim and Frills (“They have been magic!” says Clapp). It’s also important to Clapp that foster children feel like they fit in with their new family. For that reason, she is “super-picky” about what donations are accepted. She says old or worn clothing should not be something that sets a child apart from their foster siblings. Clapp has learned that having “something they can call theirs,” is important to that sense of belonging because the other children in the home have toys and things of their own already.

In addition to washing and sorting clothes, Cloth + Foster also regularly needs help with cleaning loaner car seats that are used for transporting kids. Clapp assures she will find a way for “anyone that wants to lean in and love” to help. “The need is very real for supporting foster families and for others to become licensed foster parents,” she continues. “Foster families are asked to welcome and love a foster child like their own for years with the primary goal to say goodbye when they can be reunited with their family of origin. We know what we signed up for, but the heartbreak is real, and attachments are real as foster families pour their hearts into these children . . . How can you not fall in love with someone you are serving? We have wiped away many tears as we’ve said goodbye to little ones as they are moved to a suitable family member or back to their biological parents. The work is hard, the need is real and all the support our community can provide is welcomed.”

Sarah Mortensen holds a degree in marriage and family studies and works for Vancouver Public Schools as a paraeducator in addition to her role as associate editor of Vancouver Family Magazine. When Sarah is not reading to her kids or students, she is probably in her backyard taking care of her garden. She also enjoys hiking, hot chocolate, and dressing up for Halloween. She lives in Vancouver with her husband, son and daughter.