GREAT FALLS — Nikki Davalos, co-founder of Linking Our Voices Everyday (LOVE), has been in and out of foster care since she was a little girl.
She says she was inspired by her past to help foster kids and foster parents: “A lot of my memories were not okay and they were very unsafe.”
But as she grew up, she decided to pursue school and obtain her degree in Early Childhood Education and a graduate degree in counseling.
Then she started the nonprofit called L.O.V.E. with her friend Kat Whitish in February of 2019, and the nonprofit is asking for help for their upcoming year.
LOVE was created to build a support group for foster and adoptive families, or for those who are interested in becoming foster parents and to link the foster care community throughout Great Falls.
According to their website, LOVE says their goal is "to link the gap and the voices of those involved in the lives of foster children. Along with this to reach out and encourage groups in communities in all of Montana. We look forward to every member being an important force in Linking Our Voices Everyday."
They just want to create a safe space for anyone who is involved in fostering or interested in becoming involved.
Davalos also says, “We are making sure that community is safe because the majority of people that are becoming foster parents are doing it because they want to because they love and they care.”
L.O.V.E. is beginning fundraising for their summer programs to help foster kids stay active and be involved in activities they are interested in. Last year their organization paid for 31 kids to go to summer activities.
They also have tutoring programs available for foster kids who may have fallen behind on schoolwork. These programs are funded through donations from the community.
If you wish to donate you can do so on their website.
If you have questions on how to get involved you can contact Nikki or Kat
