At the heart of CarePortal’s mission is a promise to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. For Joanna, that promise came to life in a way she never expected. A journey that not only transformed her own life but also deepened her understanding of God’s call to serve others.

As Joanna’s relationship with Christ deepened, so did her desire to share His love and compassion with those in need. “The more I experience God’s love, the more I want that for other people,” Joanna says. But she faced a challenge: How could she reach others in a way that felt meaningful, real, and connected to God’s heart?

The answer came unexpectedly through Ashley, a woman involved with foster care and CarePortal, who shared her story of adopting a child and using CarePortal to meet urgent needs in the foster care community. “It just spoke right to my heart. And I knew right then and there, that’s the answer. That’s what I want to do.”

The Power of Immediate Connection

CarePortal helps turn compassion into action — simply, effectively, and honestly. It’s a platform that connects people with real-time needs in their communities, transforming the way we think about generosity. When Joanna first heard about CarePortal, she knew it was a tool that could help her step into God’s mission. She could respond to immediate needs, like providing a crib for a newborn or delivering food to a family struggling to make ends meet.

Joanna knew that responding to a need would be simple: Find a request, provide the item, and deliver it to the family in need. But what she didn’t expect was the depth of her Care-Sharing experience. “You’re actually there bringing light, and you are bringing healing and comfort to those people.”

One of her first responses was to a mother who needed a booster seat for her child. Joanna was determined to make the delivery special, so she stopped at the store and picked up a box of ice cream sandwiches for the kids. When she arrived at the home, she learned that the family was struggling to make ends meet. The mother shared that they wouldn’t be able to get food again until the following week.

Joanna knew she had to do more. “I asked her what the kids liked, and I went straight to the grocery store to fill their pantry.” When Joanna returned with bags of groceries, the reaction was beyond anything she had anticipated. The children jumped up and down with excitement, their faces lit with joy as they realized they had food for the next several days. For Joanna, this moment was a powerful reminder of God’s provision. “You would have thought I brought them a million dollars,” she says.

Meeting Needs and Building Relationships

Through technology, we can see real needs in real time, making it easier than ever to connect with families when they need it most. For Joanna, this connection went beyond just providing material things. It was about engaging in a way that demonstrated God’s love.

As she prepared to leave the family’s home, she felt led to pray with them. “I didn’t want them to think it was me giving them food — it was God’s love and provision,” she reflects. The family was overjoyed to pray with her, and in that moment, Joanna felt what we mean when we say “connection changes everything.”.

This wasn’t just a delivery, it was an experience that allowed Joanna to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a very real, personal way. She had the chance to show up for a family, not just with food, but with hope, prayer, and a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

The Ripple Effect of Care-Sharing

By engaging with families through Care-Sharing, communities are empowered to step in, preventing crises before they escalate. Joanna’s story is a perfect example of how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, restoring families and making a lasting impact.

“CarePortal is an opportunity for us to reach these hurting people. We don’t have to go out and try to figure out how to reach them. They’re coming to us. The need comes right into our email, and here it is, here’s the need, giving us the opportunity to go out and bring light,” Joanna says. She’s seen firsthand how something as simple as a grocery run or a booster seat can make all the difference in a family’s life. But she’s also seen how these small actions can restore hope and spark real change.

When asked what she would say to someone hesitant to get involved with CarePortal, Joanna’s advice is clear: “Before you react out of fear or judgment, take a moment to pray. Ask the Lord to show you His heart for the people in need around you.” 

Transforming Lives Through Care-Sharing

For Joanna, responding to a need on CarePortal was more than just a transaction — it was a transformation. “You’re not just blessing others, you’re being blessed too,” she says. By showing up, connecting, and engaging with the families in need, she’s making a difference in their lives while experiencing God’s love in a deeper way.

Care-Sharing is a movement. Whether you’re a community member, a church, or a business, CarePortal offers an opportunity to be a part of something that’s changing the future of child welfare, one need at a time.