In Alabama, hundreds of young people face adulthood each year without the stability of a permanent home.

For many foster youth, the day they “age out” of care marks not a new beginning but an uncertain future — one filled with obstacles few 19-year-olds are equipped to face alone.

Erica Hardesty has made it her life’s work to change that story.

As the founder and executive director of Make It Matter: The Collective, a Huntsville-based nonprofit, Hardesty has dedicated her career to helping foster teens transition from state care into adulthood with confidence, purpose, and a network of support. Her vision is rooted in one belief — that every child deserves to know they matter and to have the tools to build a meaningful life.

Hardesty’s passion for foster youth began long before the founding of her organization. After earning her Bachelor of Social Work from Auburn University, she spent years working as a foster care social worker in Alabama.

There, she witnessed firsthand the challenges teens face as they approach independence — the lack of resources, the uncertainty, and the emotional weight of navigating life without a permanent family.

“My husband, David, and I have always had a desire to meet the needs of these youth in a tangible way and provide them with resources and support that speak to their purpose, even in the midst of pain,” Hardesty said. “Our hope and prayer is that Make It Matter: The Collective will be a place to house practical and powerful resources.”

Together, they launched Make It Matter: The Collective, a nonprofit designed to walk alongside foster youth as they move toward self-sufficiency.

As the organization grew, Hardesty found another way to bring her vision to life. Combining her love of flowers with her passion for service, she launched Noëlla’s Flowers — first as a flower truck and later as a storefront in Huntsville’s Stovehouse development.

The business quickly blossomed, becoming both a beloved local fixture and a funding stream for the nonprofit. A portion of each day’s proceeds goes directly to Make It Matter: The Collective, ensuring that every bouquet sold helps plant seeds of hope for Alabama’s foster teens.

Each year, Noëlla’s hosts Fête en Blanc, an elegant community event whose proceeds also benefit the organization’s mission. Through her entrepreneurial spirit, Hardesty built not just a flower shop, but a sustainable way to support foster youth across North Alabama.

The organization’s purpose is clear: to equip foster teens with mentorship, resources, and stability as they transition to adulthood. Through one-on-one relationships and life-skills coaching, Make It Matter helps youth uncover their God-given purpose while learning how to navigate housing, finances, education, and employment.

At the heart of the mission is The 614 Initiative, named after Isaiah 61:4 — “They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage.” The program pairs each young adult with a caring mentor who offers consistent guidance and encouragement.

“We are just helping them connect to resources already there to make the transition out of foster care a not-so-scary experience,” Hardesty said.

Make It Matter is also partnering with a local school system to launch a pilot mentorship program within schools. Through the initiative, foster youth are paired with mentors who help them develop life skills, achieve their goals, and connect with community resources.

To expand its mission, Hardesty and her team have launched the Now Is the Time Capital Campaign — a bold effort to raise $7.5 million to build The 614 Initiative transitional apartment complex in Owens Cross Roads.

The facility will provide more than just housing. It will serve as a safe, stable home for foster youth ages 18–21, pairing apartments with wraparound services such as life-skills coaching, workforce training, and mental health care.

“With more than 300 youth aging out in Alabama each year, and around 19,000 nationwide, the need is urgent,” said Hardesty. “This campaign will allow us to expand our programs and ensure no young adult is left to navigate adulthood alone.”

“Now is the time for our community to invest in lasting change,” she added. “Together, we can break the generational cycle of child welfare involvement and give these young people a future filled with hope. This generation needs us to rise up and speak life and truth over them.”

For many, the impact of the program is deeply personal.

“When I turned 18, I felt like the world gave up on me,” said Charles, a former foster youth in the program. “This program gave me people who believed in me, taught me how to live on my own, and helped me discover my purpose.”

Hardesty hopes stories like Charles’ will inspire others to get involved.

Community members, businesses, and churches are invited to support the campaign. Contributions can be made at makeitmattercollective.com/donate. Those interested in learning more can email [email protected].

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].