Anchored Hope

Independence doesn’t mean doing it alone. ❤️

For young adults who have experienced foster care, having someone in their corner can make all the difference. At Anchored Hope, we provide a safe place to belong, supportive relationships, and practical support as they navigate the transition to adulthood.

Good food, sticky fingers, and smart savings!
With Jasmine, Food & Nutrition Educator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, residents learned practical tips to make meal planning easier, save money, and save time with Meal Planning Made Easy!

There was a lot of laughter as residents made tasty Energy Bites—a budget-friendly recipe from Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

Who knew saving money could be this delicious? 😋

Thanks so much to this amazing family for spending their time helping us tackle this big cleanup project! We’re so grateful for your generosity and willingness to serve Anchored Hope. ❤️

A big thank you to United Way of Story County volunteers who spent their Day of Caring helping with yard work at the women’s home! We are so grateful for the time and hard work they put into making our home look great. 🏡

We are wrapped in love when community members use their talents to bless our residents. Comfort looks like a handmade afghan and homemade coffee cake made with love.

A huge THANK YOU to Farm Credit Services of America for funding our Grilling Chicken 101 workshop! Residents of Anchored Hope learned new cooking skills and enjoyed a delicious meal together. Thanks to our AMAZING volunteers who made this a memorable night:
Chef Jules for teaching us how to fire up a grill and safely cook chicken!
Amber for leading us in fun, simple ways to set a dining table!
Lara, for guiding us through the recipes and helping us create a delicious meal!
🍗 Marinated grilled chicken
🌱 Grilled asparagus
🍚 Quinoa & Brown rice
🍫 Homemade brownies
🍓🌿 Strawberry basil mocktails

Thank you to Josiah White's Quakerdale Foundation for helping share our mission. We’re so grateful for everyone who has supported Anchored Hope and continues to support our mission and the young adults we serve. ❤️

A young person aging out of foster care needs more than a bed. They need a place to belong while they learn how to build a life. That conviction led Wendy Van D**e to create Anchored Hope . Her own family's foster care story, years of advocacy, and work with young people showed her the difference consistent support can make.

Anchored Hope opened its first women's home in June 2025 and is expanding its vision to serve young men as well. Residents receive help with life skills, education, employment, driver's licenses, mentoring, and healthy community.

This is more than a roof over someone's head. It is a bridge toward independence, built through relationships and enduring hope. We are grateful for ministries willing to stand in the gap and for everyone who helps strengthen their work.

It was great having Garrett Arbuckle, Legislative Assistant to Senator Chuck Grassley, visit Anchored Hope today! We enjoyed giving him a tour of our men’s home and sharing more about the young men and women we serve and the work happening at Anchored Hope.

We’re so grateful for opportunities to share our mission and connect with others who care about young adults aging out of foster care.

We’re so thankful for Jan and the time she spends with us through her ministry, Ride With the King. 🐴

Through this Christian equine ministry, our residents have the opportunity to spend time with horses, learn new skills, build confidence, and learn about hope found in Christ.

We’ve loved seeing the smiles, new experiences, and memories being made along the way.

Thank you, Jan, for sharing your time, your horses, and your heart with us! We love having you as part of Anchored Hope! ❤️