All Saints Church Hosts Joyful “Scoops & Stories” Summer Gathering for Foster Kids and Families

DANVERS, Mass. — The Parish Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church of the North Shore overflowed with warmth, wagging tails, and the rustle of new books on Saturday afternoon, July 11, 2026, as some 10 foster children, ages 3 to 12, and their families gathered for Scoops & Stories, a summer celebration of reading, companionship, and community.

Supported by a generous House of Mercy grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the cooperation of the Department of Children and Families, the event brought together six certified Dog B.O.N.E.S. Therapy Dog teams and their handlers, who spread out across the hall to create cozy reading stations that welcomed young readers. Children received age-appropriate take-home books from the church’s Children and Families Ministry and settled in beside the gentle therapy dogs, who listened with patient, encouraging attention.

For many children, reading aloud to a calm, nonjudgmental dog offered a relaxed way to build reading confidence. Voices grew stronger with each page, and families watched with pride as the children discovered the joy of interacting with their willing, furry, and wagging-tailed reading companions.

After story time, the celebration continued with a festive ice cream social featuring scoops and sundae toppings generously donated by Melt Ice Cream in Salem. Owners Brittney and Sean Milligan, along with their daughter, Grace, 12, and their therapy dog, Zuzu, said they were delighted to support the gathering.

“This community means so much to us,” said Brittney Milligan, who provided a delicious and ample assortment of frozen treats.

“As parents who adopted our daughter Grace at age three through foster care, we found it so meaningful to be part of a day that celebrates children and families. Providing the sweet treats was our way of giving back to a community that has given us so much.”

Co-sponsored by Perfect Paws and the Children & Families Ministry, the afternoon was shaped by the gentle partnership of two ministries devoted to welcome and care. Volunteers from both ministries offered warm greetings at the door, supported therapy dog handlers at the reading stations, and later stepped behind the ice cream table to help children build their sundaes with an assortment of toppings.

Each child delighted in creating a treat as unique as they were, while family members, volunteers, and therapy dog teams mingled nearby, celebrating the gift of community and offering a warm reminder that foster families are deeply valued and lovingly supported.

Organizers described Scoops & Stories as part of All Saints’ ongoing commitment to creating welcoming, imaginative spaces for foster children and their caregivers.

The afternoon closed with full hearts and satisfied tummies, tired dogs, and children heading home with new books—keepsakes from a day where kindness, reading, and fellowship came together in the most memorable way.

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