HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A Huntsville nonprofit, Kids to Love, celebrated a new achievement on Thursday by building five cottages for women aging out of foster care.
Kids to Love helps children within the foster care system and Davidson Farms is more than a piece of land, it's home for many girls in foster care.
Lee Marshall, the founder and CEO of the Kids to Love Foundation, was born into foster care and has made it her life's mission to be a support system for kids in need.
Marshall and her mentor, the late Dr. Dorothy Davidson, cut the ribbon for the main foster house on Davidson Farms in 2017. Now, Marshall and her team welcome the Whitaker Cottage Community.
"These are cottages for young ladies aging out of foster care. They'll live here, age 20 to 25…" said Marshall, "To our knowledge and to my research, we are the first one anywhere in the nation to provide this type of transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care."
Marshall also said that after the age of 18 one in five children who are in foster care will become instantly homeless.
"What this allows us to do is give them the stability of a home in a loving environment," said Marshall.
The women will be able to stay connected with mentors and those in the main house while gaining their own independence.
Each cottage has a bedroom space, kitchen, bathroom and living room with special details and empty picture frames waiting to be filled.
"We wanted to give them something to start with and then something for them to be able to put their personality and their flavor to it," said Kristi Haley of Haley's Interiors and Designs.
Several donors made it possible for these cottages to be built debt-free during the pandemic and bricks line the walkways engraved with names of those who contributed.
"We see what happens if we do nothing. Welcome to our something," said Marshall.
Marshall also says that they always welcome donations on their website and if you are interested in purchasing a brick to be added to the cottage walkway, you can do so here.
They plan to build a total of 20 cottages within Davidson Farms.