Central Iowa nonprofit Foster Squad has introduced the eQuip Hub, a centralized resource platform designed to connect foster and kinship families in Central Iowa with community-donated essential items. The initiative aims to reduce logistical and financial barriers for caregivers and improve outcomes for children entering care. Launched earlier this year, the hub facilitates access to goods such as baby supplies and furniture while allowing donors to contribute items or funds through a single system. This month, the platform expanded into Black Hawk, Grundy and Tama counties. “Innovation in foster care doesn’t always mean new technology; it means rethinking how we show up for families,” Traci Schermerhorn, co-founder and executive director of Foster SQUAD, said in a prepared statement. “The eQuip Hub makes it simple for the community to step in and provide meaningful support exactly when it’s needed.” More information on the new hub is available at fostersquad.org.