January 2026 UpsideDown Moments Newsletter

becky26587
Feb 1
3 min read

Good Bye 2025!!

We closed out 2025 with a bang, thanks to the incredible support of our community, volunteers, and partners who helped us make a lasting impact on the lives of children in foster care, at-risk youth, and young adults transitioning to independence. As we step into 2026, we’re excited for the big accomplishments ahead—expanding programs, creating new opportunities, and continuing to ensure that every child and youth we serve feels seen, supported, and empowered. We hope you’ll be with us every step of the way, helping us make this year our most transformative yet!

Volunteers Welcomed 2026!!

January was off to an incredible start with two Sunday afternoon sorting and organizing events! Each week, 12 amazing volunteers showed up ready to roll up their sleeves—and they absolutely crushed it! With big smiles, boundless energy, and unstoppable determination, they helped us tackle mountains of donations and get everything perfectly organized for the year ahead. We are beyond grateful for their hard work and heart!

A Fond Farewell and Exciting New Beginnings

As 2025 came to a close, we said goodbye to Foster the Family, who graciously closed their doors on December 31st. We are deeply grateful that they thought of UpsideDown Moments, generously donating shelves, bookcases, toys, clothes, hygiene items, and stuffed animals to help continue their legacy of supporting children in foster care.

This generous donation is inspiring a new endeavor for UDM: we are excited to continue their Kids Day Out events, which will now be called KidzDay—an afternoon of fun and respite for foster parents to bring the children in their care, along with their biological children, for games, activities, and laughter. We are currently ironing out all the details and hope to launch KidzDay in late spring. Volunteers will play a key role in making these events a success; all volunteers will need a background check and a brief training in trauma-informed care to ensure a safe and supportive environment for every child.

Join the Impact

January Assistance and Volunteer Highlights

We are deeply thankful to everyone who gave their time, energy, and hearts to support our mission in January. Each hour volunteered helps us to do more than show up for our youth; it also strengthens our ability to secure funding, expand our programs, and provide meaningful resources to the families we serve. Volunteering truly makes a lasting impact, both on the ground and behind the scenes. Check out our January assistance and volunteer stats, showing the difference we’re making together:

11 children supported

3 foster parents supported

1 aged out young adult takes a big step towards for her future, with a new mac laptop

30 volunteers racked up 230 hours of service

Welcome, Rupal Choksi!

We are thrilled to welcome Rupal Choksi to the UpsideDown Moments team! Rupal first joined us as a volunteer at our Free Shopping Event held at Cedar Lane Elementary School in December. She loved what she experienced and was inspired to become part of our mission to support children in foster care and at-risk youth. We are excited to have her energy, passion, and dedication she brings to our Event Planner position!

Hearts For Hope Bingo Bash - Secure Your Spot NOW!

We are 22 days away from our Hearts for Hope Bingo Bash and we are still looking for a few more donations to help make our prizes amazing!

Donate an in-kind prize and receive ONE FREE BINGO TICKET and ONE 50/50 RAFFLE TICKET as our thank-you!

Looking for ideas? We’re accepting:

Experience packages
Restaurant gift cards
Spa or self-care baskets
Toy or family fun baskets
Movie nights, game nights & more

Your donation helps us raise critical funds to support children and youth in foster care — and makes Bingo even more exciting!

A SHOUT OUT TO OUR SPONSORS and a BIG THANK YOU to:

You've Got Maids of Northern Virginia (Natasha Mcgrath) - Heart of Gold Level

Spezzatura - Heart of Good Level

Bank of Clark County - Circle of Care Level

Karlene Stecchi - Bingo For Good Level

There is still availability for sponsorship, if interested send an email to Rupal Choksi

Fueling an Amazing 2026

January has been a whirlwind of opportunity as our team worked on several grant applications to support UpsideDown Moments’ mission. We’re optimistic about the possibilities ahead and can’t wait to bring new programs to life that will empower the children and young adults we serve. Every grant we secure helps us build sustainable support, expand our impact, and make 2026 a truly transformative year for our clients—and we’re thrilled to have our community along for the journey!