Members of the Junior League of Fort Myers, longtime Friends and supporters, lend a hand assembling hygiene bags for the Comfort Closet. COURTESY PHOTO
NATURE OF BUSINESS: Nonprofit organization serving abused, neglected and abandoned children throughout Southwest Florida
COMPANY PRESIDENT & CEO: Jessica Kaestner
NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: One primary office in Fort Myers, serving children throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 43
What need in the community does your organization uniquely fill?
When a child enters the welfare system, they often lose far more than a place to live. They lose routines, treasured belongings, familiar faces and many of the everyday moments that make childhood feel normal. A.N.A.’s Friends fills the gap between what the system provides and what healing requires by combining immediate, trauma-informed support with the moments that remind children they are still children.
In the last year, what were the best decisions you made to help your business succeed?
One of our best decisions was to continue to stay committed to being nimble. The children we serve don’t fit neatly into checkboxes, so we’ve committed to meeting each child and each need, exactly where they are. We also decided to show our community, in a bigger way, who we are and what we do and that everyone has the power to be a Friend to a vulnerable child. That effort culminated in “Among Friends: A Conversation about Healing, Belonging and the Power of Connection.”
What do clients or customers tell you they value most about working with you?
Our partners consistently tell us they value our responsiveness, flexibility and willingness to say, “Let’s figure it out.” Child welfare professionals are often navigating urgent situations with limited time and resources. They know they can send an eligible request to A.N.A.’s Friends and receive a clear, compassionate response without unnecessary barriers.
Some of the feedback that means the most to us comes from the children and caregivers we serve. One adoptive grandmother raising several of her grandchildren shared, “I can’t believe the way this organization has stepped up for me and my kids. A.N.A.’s Friends has been such a godsend and a lifesaver.” After a recent Heartfelt Hangout, a teenager living in a group home told us, “They didn’t treat me like some weird foster kid. They just wanted to be my friend.”
How has your organization evolved to better serve your customers? And how do you stay ahead of change within your industry?
A.N.A.’s Friends has evolved from primarily providing financial support into a responsive, regional nonprofit focused on creating lasting impact. We’ve intentionally shifted from transactional to transformative, moving beyond simply meeting needs to helping children heal, belong and create favorite childhood memories. We stay ahead of change by listening closely to frontline child welfare professionals, analyzing request and utilization data, building partnerships across five counties and remaining nimble enough to respond when new gaps emerge.
What things are happening in the Southwest Florida market right now that you think will influence your business?
Southwest Florida continues to be an incredibly generous community, but nonprofits are being asked to do more with less. The needs of children and families continue to grow while fundraising has become increasingly competitive and funding sources less predictable. For A.N.A.’s Friends, that means remaining innovative, building strong partnerships and ensuring every donated dollar creates the greatest possible impact for the children we serve.
What standards or principles guide the way you deliver your services?
We believe in the power of a Friend. That’s why, when we rebranded, we intentionally became A.N.A.’s Friends. While A.N.A. stands for Abused, Neglected and Abandoned, those are the circumstances that bring many children into the child welfare system. We wanted our name to focus on what comes next: Friends. A Friend is someone who shows up, keeps their promises, offers hope and reminds a child they matter. That belief guides everything we do. We meet each child where they are, respond with urgency and compassion and treat every interaction with dignity.
How does your business ensure a consistently exceptional experience?
We make it simple for the people who need us, because a child in crisis shouldn’t have to wait. When a caseworker sends us a request, they can trust it will be met quickly and completely. For more than seven years running, we’ve fulfilled every eligible request that has come to us, without exception. Our Comfort Closet stays stocked so essentials are ready the moment a child arrives, because even the smallest details can bring comfort when everything else feels uncertain.
What misconceptions about your industry would you like to clarify?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that “the system” covers everything a child in foster care needs. It doesn’t. Government funding helps provide for a child’s basic placement, but many of the things that help a child simply be a child, a cozy bed to call their own, the chance to celebrate a birthday, opportunities to build confidence, experience joy and create favorite childhood memories, depend on the generosity of our community. Another misconception is that making a difference requires a large donation or countless volunteer hours. It doesn’t. Sometimes, being a Friend starts with the smallest act of kindness, and those acts can make the biggest difference.
Why do you believe your organization continues to earn trust in this community?
Trust is earned through consistency, transparency and follow-through. For more than 40 years, our organization has adapted and grown alongside the needs of Southwest Florida’s abused, neglected and abandoned children. What began as a small foundation supporting one program has evolved into a regional nonprofit providing immediate support, meaningful childhood experiences and hope to thousands of children each year. Children learn to trust us because we show up how and when we say we will. Donors trust us because we steward every dollar responsibly and clearly demonstrate the impact of their generosity. ¦