In Support of The Mathis Menagerie
Well…apparently the village has spoken.
When we recently shared that our family unexpectedly grew by three tiny humans at once—siblings ages 3½, 2½, and 6 months—we mentioned somewhat tongue-in-cheek that one of our biggest needs was a church bus with cup holders.
Because here’s the math:
We now have seven children at home, plus Mom, Dad, Gramma, and Titi.
That’s 11 people when the whole Mathis Menagerie is together.
Our current vehicles simply cannot hold everyone, which means family outings, appointments, church, visits, school activities, and everyday life often require taking two vehicles—or deciding that some of us simply can’t go.
And apparently several members of our village heard “church bus with cup holders” and said:
“So…where’s the fundraising?” 😂
Truthfully, making this is hard for us.
We are much more comfortable being the people who help than the people asking for help. And these three little ones aren’t our first venture into foster care.
Since 2020, our home has welcomed child after child who needed somewhere safe to land. These three siblings are our 15th, 16th, and 17th kiddos to become part of the Mathis Menagerie through foster care—alongside raising our two birthed children and our three adopted/soon to be adopted kiddos, caring for members of our extended family, including a Mom and others close to us (not naming at this time).
This isn’t something we stumbled into.
It’s a calling we have continued to say yes to.
Sometimes that yes has been easy. Sometimes it has rearranged bedrooms, schedules, finances, holidays, sleep, and plans. And sometimes—as we’re discovering now—it has quite literally outgrown our vehicle. 😂
We didn’t take these three precious children because we had every logistical detail perfectly figured out. We said yes because three siblings needed somewhere safe to land together, and we believed we were being asked to make room.
We have tried very hard over the years to provide for the children placed in our care without asking others to carry that responsibility for us. This fundraiser isn’t about wanting something bigger or better.
It’s about reaching a point where the practical needs of the family God has entrusted to us have become bigger than what we can meet alone.
And we’re learning that perhaps part of saying yes to this calling is also being willing to say yes when other people ask to help.
So here we are—swallowing some pride and letting our village love on us, too. 💜
Our goal is to find a safe, reliable 10–12+ passenger vehicle that allows the Mathis Menagerie to travel together. Nothing fancy. Nothing glamorous.
Any money raised will go directly toward purchasing a larger vehicle and the associated costs of getting it safely on the road. If we are blessed beyond what is needed for the vehicle, additional funds will go toward the very unglamorous realities of suddenly adding little people to a household—clothing, diapers, food, transportation, and their everyday needs.
There is absolutely no expectation to give. We know how expensive life is for everyone right now. Sharing this fundraiser, praying for our family, keeping an eye out for the elusive reasonably-priced passenger van/bus, or simply cheering us on means more than you know.
For six years, we’ve kept making room.
Another bed.
Another seat at the table.
Another toothbrush in the bathroom.
Another little person who needed to know that, for however long they were ours to love, there was a place for them here.
This time, making room means we need a few more seats. 💜
We have questions.
God always has the answers.
And sometimes, apparently, the answer looks suspiciously like a church bus with cup holders. 🚌😂
With love and enormous gratitude,
The Mathis Menagerie 💜
Updates
Keep up to date as needs change.
Sep 14, 2026
🚨 MATHIS MENAGERIE UPDATE: APPARENTLY WE NEEDED ANOTHER SEAT. 😂❤️
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Sep 03, 2026
The Van Saga Continues
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Aug 31, 2026
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