The Allens’ lives have been changed through foster parenting. Now they want to continue to make a positive impact on foster families through their organization Heart Mountain Foster Parent Exchange (HMFPE), which will serve the entire Big Horn Basin.

Kenneth and Michael Allen, who became certified foster parents three years ago, began fostering three brothers: Andre, Izaiah and Noah. On May 26, Kenneth and Michael officially adopted the three. 

The Allens have recently moved back to Powell where Kenneth has family ties, but originally began fostering the brothers in Sheridan. 

“They have a program called the Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange (SFPE),” Kenneth said. “They were very helpful in getting us clothing, supplies, shoes, anything we needed to help raise the boys.”

After moving to Powell, Kenneth contacted SFPE to learn how to set up a similar service. SFPE offered to mentor the couple.

Kenneth explained that for supplies foster families are often given only a garbage bag filled with clothes. The Allens wanted to provide a similar service to what they were given that would help provide foster families or children living in boys’ or girls’ homes, children who live with grandparents and children living with parents in hotels. Supplies can also be donated to youth referred to HMFPE by law enforcement or Department of Family Services.

Currently HMFPE is working on building relations with local ministries, law enforcement and DFS, emergency rooms and other organizations that may come across children in need.

All donations are confidential and HMFPE will only ask for gender and clothing sizes. The supplies can be delivered or picked up.

“We thought we would start our own organization over here because there isn’t one right now, Kenneth said. “There are a few, you know, you can get some supplies through certain churches and things like that, but they don’t have an actual organization that focuses just on this.”

Michael said that they moved to Powell in June and were able to discuss starting the organization and get an initial load of supplies which were donated by SFPE mid-August.

Right now they have backpacks with school supplies and duffle bags filled with a week’s worth of clothing, hygiene products, a pair of shoes and other needed items. The duffle bags are individually painted by a nonprofit organization called Together We Rise. Since HMFPE is a nonprofit organization the bags will be donated to HMFPE to keep on hand.

HMFPE also has “BAM” boxes, which are boxes with toys, pillowcases and other items that are given to kids when they are adopted.

“And they have [super hero] capes,” Noah said.

HMFPE also has birthday boxes that have a variety of toys and a Dairy Queen gift card.

The idea is that the bags can be quickly loaded and run to families in need on a moments notice.

“That’s just to get them started,” Kenneth said. “We’re trying to find a space where we can store all of this. So that people can come if they need something. So it’s not just a one time deal: ‘here you go, good luck.’”

Kenneth and Michael hope to be able to find a storage area where they can stack items for easy and quick access. HMFPE will have an on-call phone that can be called when new foster families need supplies in a hurry. The goal is to be able to provide supplies within four hours of foster placement, throughout the Big Horn Basin.

Community members who want to support the organization can volunteer, donate items (shoes, hygiene products, baby items and stuffed animals are always needed) or donations can be made through an account at Sunlight Federal Credit Union. 

For more information, contact heartmountainfpe@gmail.com.