HOOD RIVER — Each year, the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation hosts a Hearts of Gold event to honor individuals dedicated to improving the lives of others and building a healthier community in the Gorge. This year’s honorees, Jim and Kathy Stutters, are The Next Door Inc.’s (TNDI) longest-serving foster parents who’ve opened their hearts and their home to more than 50 foster children, providing the stability, structure, and love that so many have needed since 2012.
Both Jim and Kathy are lifelong residents of Cascade Locks who’ve held many jobs in the area. Kathy worked as a dental assistant, a hair stylist, a fish counter at Bonneville Dam, and a toll collector. She also ran her own restaurant for two years. Jim worked for the railroad as a laborer, and for the Port of Portland for 30 years. Most recently he has driven for Lyft and Uber. While many retirees embrace a life of leisure, Jim and Kathy Stutters have chosen a different path filled with purpose and unwavering commitment.
Under the auspices of The Next Door Inc., the Stutters have become a beacon of hope for foster youth throughout the years, offering guidance, consistency, and the simple joys of a caring, nurturing home. One of their former foster children sums them up perfectly: “Jim and Kathy Stutters are such amazing people. I came to their house at a very low point in my life, but that did not stop them from caring about me and caring for me. Jim never strays from speaking his mind and will tell you the truth and always shows you in a caring way how to get things done. Kathy, the loving and caring woman who is always there to support you even when you are in the wrong, will love you, feed you and make it so you never want to leave. The Stutters make you feel that their home is your home.”
There used to be a time when many people were willing to be foster parents to serve the approximately 8,000 children in foster care in Oregon every year. In 2017, there were 4,262 licensed foster homes in Oregon. By 2022, that number had fallen to 2,770. Today, it’s almost impossible to find anyone willing to be a foster parent. Having experienced foster parents like the Stutters is not only heartwarming, but essential. They enable The Next Door to serve the children who need our care most.
After so many years of being foster parents, Kathy says they get calls every week from a former foster youth, and it’s not uncommon for former youth to stop by their home for a surprise visit.
Kathy shares, “One youth calls every year on my birthday. When you have doubts about if you have helped them, they assure you they were glad to be given a chance to have a good life.”
The Stutters are true unsung heroes, never seeking recognition for their work. The Next Door is thrilled to see them receive the Providence Hearts of Gold award, recognizing the extraordinary love and support they have and continue to provide to local youth.
The Next Door Inc. (TNDI), the largest social service agency in the Gorge, was founded in 1971 to address the unmet need of support services for youth. Today, TNDI’s employees facilitate over 35 programs that strive to fulfill our mission of opening doors to new possibilities by strengthening children and families and improving communities in Oregon and Washington. For more information about supporting our foster care efforts, visit nextdoorinc.org/treatment-services.
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