Every Child Deserves a Soft Place to Land
We give kids in foster care room to grieve, to heal, and to be loved.

Who We Are

Every child experiencing foster care deserves more than a cold, sterile office on their hardest day. At Lily Pad, we create soft, comforting spaces inside DSS offices, because no child should spend their worst day in a cubicle.

Rooted in faith and compassion, our mission is simple and powerful. We partner with DSS teams and community volunteers to transform the foster care experience, one room at a time. Each space tells a child, “You matter.” Every donation and every hour volunteered helps turn a hard day into one where hope feels possible.

The Reality Too Many Children Face

Across the United States, more than 391,000 children and youth are experiencing foster care. In South Carolina, nearly 3,900 children navigate this system, many without a safe and comforting place to wait between homes.

Because of placement challenges and a shortage of foster homes, some children spend nights in DSS offices on air mattresses or curled up on blankets. At times, they sleep in a case manager’s cubicle.

These cold and impersonal spaces can deepen the stress and fear children are already feeling. But together, we can create something better, a soft place to land on one of the hardest days of their lives.

How We Help

We transform sterile offices into cozy, dignifying spaces where children can rest, play, and simply breathe. More than a room, these spaces are often the first step toward restoring dignity, safety, and hope on a very hard day.

DSS teams work tirelessly to support children and families, but their offices were never designed with comfort and calm in mind. Our spaces change that, providing a soft place to land for children and a supportive environment for the caseworkers who serve them.

Each transformation is a community effort made possible by generous donors, caring volunteers, and partners who believe every child deserves better. Together, we offer a practical and compassionate solution to a system under strain and a child who simply needs to feel safe.

Our Rooms

  • Safe

    Spaces that calm, protect, and provide a sense of security in hard moments.

  • Comfortable

    Soft seating, warm lights, and soothing textures that invite rest.

  • Familiar

    Recognizable, welcoming designs that help children feel at ease.

Who We Serve

  • Children & Youth in Foster Care

    We create comforting spaces that remind every child they matter.

  • State DSS Teams

    We support case managers with calm, trauma-informed environments.

  • Foster Families & Advocates

    We ease transitions and uphold every child's dignity and worth.

  • Communities & Volunteers

    We equip local communities to create visible, lasting change.

  • Donors & Partners

    Your generosity brings comfort and dignity to every child we serve.

Why It Matters &
How You Can Help

Because every child deserves dignity.
Because comfort can change a story.
Because trauma doesn’t belong in a cubicle.

Lily Pad is building more than rooms. We are building hope, safety, and the assurance that every child is seen and valued.

Fund a
Transformation

Help Build Spaces
That Heal

Bring Lily Pad To Your
Office or Agency

“I wish I had a Lily Pad space where I could comfort my younger siblings and distract them from the trauma we were experiencing. Now that I have a safe family, I am working with Lily Pad to make positive changes for kids in foster care.”

— Ashlyn, 16

“I had been in foster care since the age of three. I survived neglect in my biological family and abuse in my adoptive family.

I slept on a chair in my case manager’s cubicle.

I said, “goodbye” to my siblings in a conference room inside of a Department of Social Services office the day we were separated into different foster homes. “