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
Robert P. Ford Jr.
Founder/Director
Danielle Thompson
Board President
James
Grant
Board Vice President
Eric
Hamdan
Board Secretary
Dr. Fannie Brown
Interim Board Treasurer & Advisor
Andrew Respress
Board Member
Lori
Porter
Board Member & Advisor
April
Thomas
Volunteer Coordinator/Food Distribution
Ralph Hickman
Technical Advisor for the Shower Bus project
Owner of Blaze Technical, Stow
Mobile Hygiene Unit Initiative
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
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
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.
Thanks to the steadfast support of our generous donors, Forever R Children has been able to consistently provide assistance to individuals and families in need, ensuring that both adults and children receive essential support. It is through the generosity of many that we can assist those who are often overlooked and underserved.