About us

Our Mission

Dear Darling exists to bring comfort and care to children experiencing foster or kinship care. Our mission is to provide clothing, everyday essentials, and personal comforts that help children feel valued and supported through each placement. By meeting these needs, we hope to ease the transition for children while supporting the families who welcome them into their homes.

meet the team

Started by Foster Parents

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Madeline Johnson

President & Co-founder

Madeline has been a foster parent since December 2024, giving her firsthand experience with both the joys and challenges that can come with welcoming a child into your home. She is also the owner of Little Threads in downtown Brainerd, where she has built a business centered around children and families. Her personal foster care journey and connection to the local community are a big part of her passion for making sure foster and kinship families feel supported and children have what they need.

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Samantha Egle

Vice President & Co-founder

Samantha has been a foster parent since March 2025 and understands how quickly life can change when you receive a call for a new placement. She works full-time in Human Resources for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and is also a co-owner of Tiny Snugs, a children’s pajama brand. Through Dear Darling, Samantha hopes to use both her personal and professional experiences to make things a little easier for foster and kinship families and ensure children feel cared for and supported throughout their time in care.

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Alex Egle

Treasurer

Alex has been a foster parent since March 2025 and has experienced firsthand the importance of having support and resources available when welcoming a child into your home. He works full-time in employee benefits at North Risk Partners and is also a co-owner of Tiny Snugs. Alex brings a thoughtful, family-focused perspective to Dear Darling and is passionate about helping create a community where foster and kinship families know they don’t have to navigate every part of the journey on their own.

What we believe

Our values

Dignity

Every child deserves to have clothing and essentials that fit, feel good, and are truly their own. We thoughtfully choose and care for every item we provide so children can receive them with dignity.

Privacy

Every child and family deserves to receive support with respect and privacy. We keep things simple, asking only for ages and sizes so we can provide what each child needs, no case details or personal information required.

Community

We believe caring for children and families is something we can do together. Through the generosity of local families, businesses, organizations, and volunteers, our community helps make sure foster and kinship families have support when they need it most.