Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Gastonia, NC (WNN) - What began with homemade cinnamon rolls auctioned on Facebook to buy pajamas for children in foster care has since grown into a nonprofit that has impacted more than 18,000 children across North and South Carolina.
Least of These Carolinas, a nonprofit organization with an office in Gastonia, was founded in 2013 by two foster moms passionate about helping foster children throughout Gaston County.
The Least of These Carolina's Building located at 1000 S. Myrtle School Rd in Gastonia, NC. February, 18th,2026
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
Before becoming the Founders of the organization, Susanna Kavanaugh and Michelle Buchanan were foster moms, opening their homes to 14 foster children. This experience gave them a firsthand look at what the state could and could not provide.
Least of These Carolinas Founders Susanna Kavanaugh and Michelle Buchanan (L to R)
Least of These Carolinas
"We knew exactly what kind of support was coming from social services, and they were doing their best, but it just felt like these were invisible children and nobody was really paying attention to them," Kavanaugh said.
The two women had a passion to be a voice for those children, making sure they were not forgotten and had a foster home to go to. In 2013, they launched the organization originally called Least of These Gaston with an emergency closet stocked at the county Department of Social Services with pajamas, socks, and underwear for children entering the system.
This eventually grew into the organization's Bag of Hope program. The organization served 138 children in its first year.
Today, Least of These Carolinas operates in a building at 1000 S. Myrtle School Road in Gastonia and offers multiple programs. The organization helps kids no matter where they live, including those experiencing foster care, those already in foster care, and those in kinship care setups.
"It doesn't matter where these kids are, it doesn't matter what home they're in — we're here to serve them and to impact their quality of life to make sure that they know that they're seen, heard, and loved," Kavanaugh said.
The organization has 5 core values:
Wholeness – They believe every child deserves to be seen as a whole person with unique needs, dreams, and potential.
Hope – They are dedicated to equipping and empowering those we serve, laying the foundation for a brighter future.
Intentionality – They are committed to excellence and personalization in every aspect of what they do.
Consistency – They aspire to be a steadfast presence in the lives of those they serve, offering unwavering support and reliability.
Honor – They uphold the dignity of every child and family they serve, recognizing their inherent worth and treating their stories with the respect they deserve.
The organization offers a range of programs and services for the children it serves. One previously mentioned is the Bag of Hope. It is simply a duffel bag for a child in foster or kinship care. Each bag is designed for that particular child and is packed with essentials, including a special note from a volunteer and an age-appropriate Bible. If you would like to collect items for a bag, you can see the Amazon and Walmart Registry by clicking here.
Another Program offered is called Shoes of Hope. Every year, before school starts, the organization hosts a special event for the children in foster and kinship care to pick out a brand-new backpack, fresh socks and underwear, and a new pair of shoes to start the school year off right. 490 children were served in 2025.
Clothes given to foster kids at the Least of These Carolinas building. February 18th,2026
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
Bridge Camp is another program the organization offers. It is a summer camp for kids in foster and kinship care. Bridge Camp lets children make friends with others who can understand what they are going through, all while having fun outdoors and splashing in the water. Best of all, it shows every kid who comes that they're not alone in their journey.
Every year, the organization puts together a Christmas program. Kids in foster and kinship care get to make their own wishlists, and local sponsors can adopt a list to shop for that specific child. It's a great way for the community to make sure that every child has something during the holiday season.
For youth, there's the Life Box program, which helps those in foster and kinship care who are graduating high school and getting ready for college or starting their job journey. Each box is packed with valuable items like towels, cookware, bedding, and even a laundry basket— basically whatever is needed for the next step in their life.
Lastly, there's the Just Like You Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to give children in foster care a sense of "normalcy". The scholarship can be used for summer camps, music lessons, school trips, or computers (for high school students).
Although the nonprofit is constantly growing, Kavanaugh points out that there's a crucial issue in the foster care system that her organization can't tackle on its own.
The biggest need is more foster homes. I cannot provide a home for them," she said. "I can support them while they're in transition, I can support them when they land in a foster home, I can support them while they're sleeping on a blow-up mattress at DSS — but what they really need is homes."
Least of These Carolinas is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps kids in foster care. Currently, they're looking to set up several regional hubs across North Carolina to broaden their impact.
For those who would like to help, there are a few ways to get involved. You can volunteer, make a donation, or arrange a tour of their facility by visiting lotcarolinas.com. Their office is located at 1000 S. Myrtle School Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052, and is open from Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You can also keep up with the organization by following their Facebook page.
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