Check Out Kathy DiVincenzo’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy DiVincenzo.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Honey from the Rock was born out of a deep desire to stand in the gap for children experiencing foster care and the families who care for them. As a foster mom, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to welcome a child into your home with little to no notice—and even less support. I was shocked to learn that Cuyahoga County, which has the highest number of children entering foster care in the entire state, didn’t have a foster care closet. I knew something had to change.

What began with a single donation drive on December 7th, 2024—one that filled four office spaces completely—has grown into a full-scale foster care closet. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’ve moved into a dedicated warehouse and office space where we now provide essential items like clothing, shoes, and hygiene products, as well as joy-filled extras like our Beeday Bundles, toys, and games—all completely free of charge.

Our mission is to bring dignity and joy to children during incredibly vulnerable times and to remind families they are not alone. Since we began serving families on January 8th, we’ve already supported nearly 250 children across Northeast Ohio. We serve foster families, kinship caregivers, families who have adopted from foster care, and biological families who have been reunified with their children.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road, but a meaningful one. Like most things rooted in passion and purpose, building Honey from the Rock has come with its fair share of challenges.

Starting from scratch meant learning as we went. We had to navigate nonprofit logistics, secure space and expand that space, build systems, and try to meet urgent needs with limited resources. There were moments when it felt overwhelming, especially while balancing this work with being a mom, a foster parent, and working full-time. I can’t speak enough to the power of our community. We have had over 1,000 service hours since our first donation drive and the majority of our systems have been built completely from our incredible volunteers we call our Worker Bees.

One of the biggest hurdles was simply awareness. Many people don’t realize how many children are entering foster care each day or how little time caregivers have to prepare. Getting the word out about what we do and why it matters has been a constant effort.

Still, every challenge has been worth it. The late nights, the space constraints, the emotional weight of the stories we hear—each one has only strengthened our resolve. Seeing the relief on a caregiver’s face or the joy in a child picking out something just for them is all the confirmation we need that this work matters.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Honey from the Rock, we serve children experiencing foster care by providing essential items with dignity, love, and no red tape. We specialize in meeting urgent needs quickly, whether it’s clothing, shoes, hygiene items, toys, or books, or our Beeday Bundles, which are custom birthday packages filled with joy. Everything we offer is completely free and tailored to each child’s preferences, sizes, and unique story.

We are known for our heart. We care deeply about preserving the dignity of every child and supporting the families who care for them, whether they are foster parents, kinship caregivers, adoptive families, or reunified biological families. We want every interaction to feel personal, not transactional. We’re known for having our clients feel seen and heard.

One thing that sets us apart is our responsiveness. We don’t only operate on a fixed monthly schedule or require families to go through long approval processes. If a placement happens today, we do everything we can to have items ready for that child as soon as possible. We also take pride in the way we create a joyful, welcoming experience for both caregivers and children, paying close attention to the details of packaging and presentation. When shopping in-store we cater the dressing room to the child or sibling set, allowing for an additional layer of having that child feel seen.

What I am most proud of is the way our community has come together around this mission. In such a short time, we have been able to serve hundreds of children, not because we have a large staff or big budget, but because people believed in what we are doing and stepped in to help. That kind of unity and generosity is something truly special.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5 to 10 years, I believe we’ll see a growing recognition that wraparound support for children experiencing foster care must extend beyond basic needs. The foster care community is calling out for services that are not only practical but also deeply relational, trauma-informed, and rooted in dignity. More organizations will begin to operate with a “whole family” approach, offering support not just to foster families, but also to kinship caregivers, adoptive families, and reunified biological families.

At Honey from the Rock, we are preparing for that future now.

We’re thrilled to be launching an expansion project soon that will allow us to take our services to the next level. We plan to expand and renovate our warehouse to create a welcoming, retail-style experience where caregivers can shop for free in a space that feels dignified and empowering.

We are also building out new spaces to host monthly roundtable support groups and training sessions. These gatherings will give caregivers a place to be encouraged, equipped, and connected with others who understand the journey they’re on. I believe this is essential for retention of foster families in particular. Statistics show us that half will be quitting after their first year and I’d love to do all I can to change that.

The office spaces that currently store our inventory will be transformed into a supervised childcare area, so children can safely play while caregivers shop during their private appointments or attend support groups. We’re also creating a warm, welcoming space for biological families to have visitations that feel safe, joyful, and full of opportunities to bond. So many families are working toward reunification, and we want to be a part of that healing story by offering a space where restoration can grow.

We believe this model is the future—not just meeting material needs, but creating an environment where joy, dignity, and connection are part of every touchpoint. Our hope is that this project inspires others to reimagine what foster care support can look like and to build spaces that reflect the worth of every child and every family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clevelandfostercarecloset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyfromtherockcle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandfostercarecloset