• About

    Forever R Children (FRC), is a local non-profit serving Akron Summit County, Ohio communities. Forever R Children’s provides mobile services and connections for the economically insecure who are not adequately supported by existing services and systems. Founded in 2019 by Robert P. Ford Jr., a Lead in Akron’s Goodyear Final Finish Department and a recipient of the 2022 Jefferson Award. Rob saw the immediate, observable, and undeniable need for basic human necessities among mainstream at-risk youth, adults, veterans, and children with disabilities and began working to eliminate the disparity he witnessed. While serving the community, he encountered citizens without homes who simply wanted the ability to take a shower. Consequently, he launched the campaign in March of 2022 to develop a mobile hygiene unit (SHOWER BUS). The Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority donated a transit bus to Forever R Children it as a shower bus for the unhoused population in the Greater Akron area. The bus began its retrofit process in May of 2023. Since its establishment in November 2019, Forever R Children has achieved significant milestones such as setting up food pantries in local schools, organizing monthly food giveaways in underserved communities, arranging trips for youth with disabilities, expanding to provide clothing, shoes, toiletries, and household items, assisting veterans with transportation needs, and offering mentoring and support to at-risk youth in Ohio. Forever R Children collaborates with Project Rise, Akron Street Card, and Summit Medina County United Way 211.

  • Our Team

    broken image

    Robert P. Ford Jr.

    Founder/Director

    broken image

    Danielle Thompson

    Board President

    broken image

    James

    Grant

    Board Vice President

    broken image

    Eric

    Hamdan

    Board Secretary

    broken image

    Dr. Fannie Brown

    Interim Board Treasurer & Advisor

    broken image

    Andrew Respress

    Board Member

    broken image

    Lori

    Porter

    Board Member & Advisor

    broken image

    April

    Thomas

    Volunteer Coordinator/Food Distribution

    Ralph Hickman

    Technical Advisor for the Shower Bus project

    Owner of Blaze Technical, Stow
     

  • Mobile Hygiene Unit Initiative

    broken image
  • We are introducing a shower bus to Akron | Summit County, Ohio! This initiative will offer showers, clean clothing, and shoes to support the most vulnerable members of our community.

    The shower bus is expected to provide around 20 showers per day. Follow the progress of retrofitting the shower bus on our YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram channels.

  • Food Distribution

    broken image
    broken image
    broken image

    Use a text section to describe your values, show more info, summarize a topic, or tell a story.

    • FRC conducted two or more monthly food distributions through their mobile units at various locations, including holiday-themed events with activities for families. They also provided deliveries to a small number of homes for individuals unable to attend in person.

     

    • In addition to distributing food and hygiene items, FRC gave out gift cards from local retailers. The distribution items included fresh produce, meat, and other essentials to meet the community's needs.

  • Special Services

     

    broken image
  • Recognizing the tremendous need in the target area, though not the main focus of the agency, when possible, Forever R Children works to help the homeless by assisting with housing referrals, transportation, food, toiletries, shoes, and socks upon request.

    The organization has also donated two cars to individuals needing transportation.