Katrina King
Title : Director , SHINE Foster Family Services
Family :
Single mom ( recently engaged ) of 11 ( through adoption , foster care , and biological )
Education :
Associate of Business , Harrison College
Residence :
Terre Haute
Tell us about your career journey . How did you get where you are today , and who / what helped you along the way ?
I
worked in sales off and on throughout young adulthood . I then completed college education in my mid 30s , entering the corporate world of student recruiting ( a sales position ). I left the corporate world to open and run a home daycare , which I did until August . I now work as a third and fourth grade teacher at Eastside Christian Academy , where I can utilize my love of Jesus and my passion of working with children . SHINE was created in 2017 by myself and a few other foster moms . We saw a need in our community and decided to fill it . SHINE is a completely volunteer run nonprofit that supplies needs to vulnerable children in the Wabash Valley . We serve families in Clay , Parke , Sullivan , Vermillion and Vigo counties . We started out in an unheated garage in November and by January had moved into a space provided by The Life Center Church , whose leadership also saw our community ’ s need . We created a Facebook page and started receiving donations at our homes , the church , and a couple of local businesses . We were open and operating by April of 2018 . We stayed busy recruiting volunteers , and building funding and donations to provide basic necessities to children with involvement with the Department of Child Services . Most of these children are in foster care . They may live with a foster family , a relative , or a facility , such as a group home . Often children are removed from their families with only the clothes on their back and their placement has to then provide a wardrobe , shoes , bedding , backpacks , school supplies , diaper bags , hygiene items , toys , books , baby gear and furniture for that child .
Some families are financially prepared to do so and some struggle with that . Our mission is to help meet those needs , so families can say yes to children easier and more often . In November of 2020 , we secured another location to serve families as we were outgrowing our spaces . We quickly renovated that space and moved our “ storefront ” into a beautiful , more retail-like space at 828 W . Johnson Drive . We now use our original space as our donation center , where we receive , sort and store donations . We ’ re already outgrowing those spaces and are currently looking for a larger space to ideally house both parts of our operations .
Happiness Bag , Inc . Jodi A . Moan
YEARS IN BUSINESS : 35
BECOMING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR upon graduation from Indiana State becomming an Executive Director was not anything I had my sights set on . However , after my summer employment began and the time , I spent with the individuals in the program evolved , a tremendous bond was developed , and one that I never fathomed would last for over 35 years . There were thoughts of leaving early on in my employment , but there were no other job opportunities that mirrored what I had found on South 7th Street . I developed a drive and desire to be able to do more for my friends & the agency . I was extremely fortunate and blessed to have a Board of Directors , at the time , who believed in my ability and entrusted me with the leadership of the agency . GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT : I would have to say that my greatest professional achievement has been assisting in the evolution of a small struggling organization , in a two-story house on South 7th St with less than 50 participants and 8 employees to a much larger facility on Union Road with more than 250 participants and over 90 employees . Our agency continues to grow and will celebrate 50 years of programs & services in the Wabash Valley in April 2022 . This growth and on-going program success have also necessitated the need for the expansion of our existing facility to meet the ever-growing needs of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities . COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT : Most of my time tends to revolve around my friends with Happiness Bag . If my time doesn ’ t involve Happiness Bag activities , directly , I am volunteering as the Director of Competition for Area 7 Special Olympics or with other events related to Special Olympics . I try to support as many community organizations and activities as I can , due to the tremendous amount of support that has been given to us throughout the years . We are beyond blessed and fortunate to be a part of a very giving and supportive community . CONTACT INFORMATION : Call 812-234-8867 or email jodi . moan @ happinessbag . org for more information .
January / February 2022 • Terre Haute Living 33