Who We Are
We are on a mission to empower people to thrive. We believe community well-being starts with a solid foundation for everyone.
HumanKind is a non-profit that wraps around local families struggling to overcome challenges associated with poverty – financial coaching, transportation, childcare, foster care, and parenting support. HumanKind meets people where they are in life and help them chart a course to achieve their goals and find stability.
With an emphasis on inclusion, we help individuals and families through programs and services that instill hope and provide the tools to build a better life.
What We Do
Early Head Start
Provides support for families and free, full-time child care for infants and toddlers in Bedford and Lynchburg. The program provides tools and resources to families of children ages 0-3 at home and in our centers to build a strong foundation for life.
Economic Resource Center
Our team of financial coaches walk with individuals and families to build strategies to get out of debt and move toward stability through one-on-one financial counseling, workshops, fair interest vehicle lending, career coaching, and ongoing case management.
Foster Care
Provides around-the-clock support, ongoing training for foster parents, and a network of professionals to assist with daily needs for children in foster care. Providing a stable foundation of support, we create a place for healing and growth for children.
Healthy Families
Home-visiting service that supports new parents prenatally through the child’s fifth birthday by focusing on positive parent-child interactions and providing one-on-one education related to healthy development and family functioning.
Where We Are
HumanKind has locations across Virginia to help serve children, adults, and their families. Many of our services reach into the greater regions surrounding these offices. Click here for addresses and contact information.
Our Greatest Need Right Now
Help! We need classroom supplies in our Early Head Start centers! Please help by coordinating a drive or donating items from our most needed list at the link below. Our teachers depend on these supplies to support learning in the classroom and at home.
Your gift will make sure every child has was they need to keep learning interactive and impactful. Your support will directly benefit the children enrolled in Early Head Start.
Our Impact
View All StoriesBreaking the Cycle | Emily's Story
At HumanKind, families grow, and families heal. When one family heals, our community is stronger. Today, because of your support Emily has carved out a safe, stable home for her children.
From Crisis to Stability | Gloria's Story
Helping Gloria bridge this gap is a gift beyond measure. You got her to the other side and helped her find stability. Because of you, she has hope for tomorrow – not just for herself, but for her children too.
Sheltering Hearts | The Ward's Story
You are the reason these children had a family like Teesha and Irvin Ward ready and waiting to help meet their need for extensive love and care. Because of you these young lives are forever changed. These children got the love, care and support they desperately needed because you cared.
Finding a Safe Haven | Tanisha's Story
Tanisha found the support she needed from a Family Support Specialist through HumanKind’s Healthy Families program. Your support provided Tanisha someone to walk the journey with her—ensuring a safe home and a better life for her family.
Bridging the Gap | Aria's Story
Thanks to your gifts and this collaboration with Johnson Health Center, all EHS students and their families will have the oral health screenings they need to ensure overall better health and wellness. Because of your support, EHS staff can find gaps like this in our community and work to create solutions.
Beyond Expectations | Emma's Story
You changed Natasha and Emma's life, and have given them the support system they needed. Because of you, Emma is defying the odds! Without you, she would have had a very different journey.
Walking the Journey | Jennifer's Story
Jennifer found the support she needed from a Family Support Specialist through HumanKind’s Healthy Families program. Because of you, she had someone to walk with her to overcome her obstacle and push forward to make things better for her family.
A Bridge to Hope | Kim's Story
What a gift you have made possible for Kim – her future is brighter because you provided a bridge to help her overcome this obstacle. You gave her resources and hope for tomorrow. “I am forever grateful to HumanKind for giving me the gas card that changed my life forever.”
Chance to Rebuild | David's Story
Because of you, David had the support he needed to overcome his obstacles and make his second chance in life count, and life is now beyond what he ever imagined. “I learned so much in the Ways to Work program – it’s all led me to where I am today and helped me purchase a home”.
Persistence puts Dreams within Reach | Keyonna's Story
Because of you, she had someone to walk this journey with her. Helping her to stick to a savings plan, pay off her debt, and build a brighter financial future for her family. Homeownership is within sight – and she has a plan that will get her there. “I don’t feel accomplished every day, but when I have things that I paid off, that’s when I’m like, ‘I was putting in that work.’"
Finding a Way | Kaylah's Story
Because of you, a lifeline of support and resources are ready to help a mom find their way. You are a hero to families struggling to overcome challenges. “I remember just instantly crying and letting out a breath I felt like I had been holding in for months.”
Opportunity to Overcome | Mary's Story
Mary's journey hasn't been easy and there are still challenges ahead. But because of you, this mother has access to life-changing resources. What a gift you have given her to build resiliency.
Second Chances | Tony's Story
Because of you, Tony had the support he needed to make his second chance in life matter. And now he’s using your gift to help others along the way! Thank you for your love of people like Tony – needing a community to walk alongside him to build hope and make lasting change.
Against All Odds | Londyn's Story
Because of you, teachers like Stephanie had the resources and the training needed to love and teach children like Londyn. You provided the support she needed to overcome these obstacles, and any others that may come her way.
Answered Prayers | Kathy & Sarah's Story
Because of you Sarah has gained the confidence and security to build a life for her and her son. You opened doors so Kathy could help her daughter blossom into an amazing mother and make sure Aiden had a safe environment to grow and explore.
Road to Healing | Chris' Story
What a gift you have provided Chris and his family – high quality care and access to resources to wrap around this whole family helping them to heal. Because of you, Chris and his entire family were able to take life-changing steps towards recovery and healing.
Taking the Next Step | Kimberly's Story
What a gift you have provided Kimberly and Aja – high quality child care, job training, access to resources and wrap around family support. Because of you, Kimberly had someone to walk the journey with her and ensure a better life for her family.
Connection is Everything | Andrew & Thomas' Story
Because of you, Andrew and Thomas have a trauma therapist to connect with them in thoughtful and unique ways and helping them build a toolkit of therapeutic skills. Your support is the reason lives are transformed, and children get the care they desperately need.
Unexpected Blessings | Shauna's Story
Now a mom of three children, Shauna still has her moments of feeling overwhelmed as the effects of the pandemic linger on. But because of you, today she’s stronger and has the tools and resources to guide her -- to take care of herself and her family.
A place for Love and Healing | Mitchell's Story
His smile is because of you, and the safety you make possible through your support of HumanKind foster care. Because of you, children who have suffered abuse and neglect have a place they can count on to keep them safe and help them heal. Your support is the reason lives are transformed, and children are safe.
Finding Home | Marc's Story
Because of your generosity, when Marc came into transitional care, HumanKind had a placement that fit him just right. And the real blessing was -- it was an adoptive placement who offered him a sense of permanency for the first time in his life.
Carving a Path | Joy's Story
Because of you Joy found the life-changing support she needed. She has found an art to her work in hospitality and takes pride in the details that go into a great guest experience. Now she can confidently spend her days finding delight in going the extra mile to bring joy to her guests.
Finding Refuge | Joseph's Story
Months before the world declared a pandemic, Joseph’s life was already in crisis. Because of you this child had a foster family and safe home ready to meet his needs when crisis struck.
More than Surviving | Donna's Story
She didn’t give up – Donna wants to make life better not just for herself, but lead the way for her children. As the single income provider in her household, she had to keep everyone afloat while staying focused on her journey to financial stability. Even though she ran into hard times, your gifts helped her get through them.
A Life Like Ours | Paul's Story
Although much of life doesn’t look the same right now, your gift ensures that Paul and his housemates have a quality of life that is meaningful to them – and as you already know, this has never been more important.
A Place to Call Home | Roman Family Story
Ramona and Franklin Roman never gave up. And because of you they had access to resources and the support they needed to create a path to homeownership. Very soon this family will be spending the holidays in their new home.
Discovering Resilience | Jeremy's Story
Jeremy has moderate intellectual disabilities, intermittent explosive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder – schedules and routines are everything to him. But because of you Jeremy was not alone.
In Times of Crisis | Sabrina's Story
Sabrina thought the worst part of the coronavirus pandemic happened when the schools closed for the remainder of the school year. She was wrong, weeks later she would also lose her job.
In Times of Fear | Dakota's Story
Thanks to you, Dakota had the support system to get the best start into motherhood. Your generosity has forever changed the life of Dakota and other mothers like her. You provided the tools she needed to overcome this obstacle.
Finding Grace | Tyrone's Story
Because of you and your support, in the midst of a pandemic Tyrone had the resources he needed to bridge the gap. This grace is only possible because of YOU! Thank you for being a hero for our neighbors in need.
Building Resilience | Trevor's Story
It could have been a devastating road block, but you stepped in and made sure it was only a detour. Without you, Trevor and his grandmother would be walking through this crisis alone.
Finding Her Voice
Change and transition do not come easy when you are an adult with autism. One of the goals that Jennifer chose for herself was to find her voice and have the confidence to make her own choices. She struggled to advocate for herself and even speak up in a group making it difficult for her peers to get to know her and support her hobbies.
You Brought Her into the Light
And because of you and your generosity, Claire has found a forever home with biological family members in North Carolina, using words to communicate, fully potty-trained and thriving in a specialized school environment. This transformation is only possible because of YOU! Thank you for your love of children left behind like Claire.
Chloe Smiles
Your generous support provided countless mornings of celebration when Chloe needed a cheerleader, patience when a day started hard, and offered lots of hugs when she was sad.
Because of You
Because of you and your support, the doors at Ways to Work were open to Victoria when she had nowhere else to turn and wanted to make changes to better support her family.
Loc Nguyen's Story
Loc Nguyen arrived to the U.S. in 1965 and didn't know any English. After spending the majority of his childhood at our Presbyterian Home, Loc comes to visit our campus every alumni weekend.
Monica's Story
Through Family Partnership Meetings Monica's family has been able to get 'back on track'.
Destin's Story
Destin used to feel like he couldn't be his true self in counseling sessions because of judgement. That changed when he came to HumanKind.
Leanette's Story
After going through troubling times Leanette received a 'hand up' in life.
Dawn's Story
Dawn has been able to find support for her educational goals and learned how to handle her emotions through the Mental Health Skill-Building program.
Kittie's Story
Kittie has been working with Healthy Families for three years and has seen dramatic results.
Calloway's basketball team
Jessie Calloway's basketball team rents out and practices in our gymnasium.
Fatima's Story
Fatima was introduced to HK a few months ago and shortly after decided to volunteer.
Julie's Story
"You know, you work every day of the week and it’s great to take some time and help other people."
Darrell's Story
Darrell grew up in a challenging environment and was constantly surrounded by people making negative decisions. As he's gotten older he has used those past experiences to give back to the community.
Mike's Story
I came in with no credit score at all… now, my credit score has gone up so high I can take on a mortgage.
Craig's Story
It was because of this car loan that I was able to leave my job with an area hotel and begin my own business.
Tamara's Story
I can say without a doubt that the Ways to Work program has changed my life for the better. It has provided me with the experience leading up to me owning my first vehicle.
Keisha's Story
I would also like to take the time to thank Ways to Work and HumanKind and for giving me this wonderful opportunity in sustaining self-sufficiency.
Makes a Difference | Kathy’s Story
Kathy Boyd, a single mother of three, came to the Ways to Work program seeking reliable transportation in order to secure a promotion at work.
Keon’s Story
Having overcome homelessness with the help of partners and the Ways to Work program, Keon joined the Financial Opportunity Center to further work on building her financial security.
Kia’sha’s Story
When twenty-two-year-old Kai’sha Taylor first came to the FOC in October of 2016, she was unemployed, pregnant, and did not know how she could plan for her future as her due date was rapidly approaching.
Shekia’s Story
Shekia Stukes began working with HumanKind’s FOC and Ways to Work programs just a few months ago and she has already made great strides.
Ashley's Story
"Thanks so much for taking care of Nic and for all that you guys have taught him. He absolutely adores you, Ms. Karen, and Ms. Katie. !! The family involvement is one of a kind, and I’m grateful to have met so many wonderful parents!"