Our 2018 Fundraising Drive!
Updated: Jan 13, 2019
Help us make a difference in the lives of local kids!
Are you ready?!
With your help we are going to put together:
75 Comfort Bags for young foster kids
25 Comfort Bag for teenage foster kids
15 bikes for teen foster kids
10 Apartment Kits for foster kids aging out of the system
25 Comfort Bags for local kids going through chemo
Comfort Bags for Foster Kids
When kids enter the foster system they are given two garbage bags in which to carry their belongings. Often these kids move from house to house, still using garbage bags. Comfort Bags are duffle bags for foster kids. They are filled with special items for the kids, and they provide a sturdy bag for them to carry their belongings.
Our goal is to put together 100 Comfort Bags for our local foster kids, and I need your help. The bags are $6.50 each and we are going to fill them up with donated goodies for the kids. Then the cases are distributed to foster kids in our area. I will be sponsoring the cost of 100 bags.
Last year we put together Comfort Bags with donations and I found that people really liked sending items to put in the cases, so this year we are going to fill 100 bags with donations from YOU! This year we are going to do 75 bags for younger kids and 25 bags for teens. I've started an Amazon wishlist ( http://a.co/37YK6K7 ) to give you an idea what we are looking for. You do not have to order from this list (in fact most items can probably be purchased elsewhere for cheaper), and as I get donations in I will alter the list so it will always have our current need.
Items that we will need ( Amazon Wishlist: http://a.co/37YK6K7 )
Children's books
Crayons
Coloring books
Blankets
Stuffed animals
Toiletry bags
Colored pencils
Journals
Adult coloring books
Water bottles
Knit hats and gloves
Anything else you think a kid would enjoy!
Bikes for Foster Kids
This year, in addition to the Comfort Bags we are also going to build 15 bikes for older foster kids (ages 12 +), because having a form of transportation can help kids quite a bit once they've been placed in a foster home. The foster agency we are working with also said a bike is a great way for a foster kid to really feel at home with their foster family.
Apartment Kits
We are going to be assembling 10 Apartment Kits for local foster kids who are aging out of the system and transitioning to independent living. We want to give these kids a head start with a bunch of apartment essentials. We are aiming for a low amount of these kits because they are going to be a lot more expensive than the Comfort Bags we put together. Our goal is to keep assembling kits throughout the year, but we are starting with these 10.
I’ve made another Amazon Wishlist for Apartment Kits ( http://a.co/ftSZMV3 ) to give you an idea of the items we are wanting to include. However, I think all of these can be purchased for much cheaper from other vendors. Here is a list of some of the items:
Pots/Pans
Dishes
Silverware
Cups
Toaster Oven
Garbage Can
Towels
Blanket
Pillows
Sheets
Cleaning Supplies
Toilet Paper/Paper Towels
Laundry Basket
Garbage Bags
Anything else you think would be a good addition to a new apartment!
Comfort Bags for kids facing medical hardship
I’m adding these on this year because this group of kids could also use some comfort. We are going to make 25 bags for these kids full of special items.
Here are some items I’m looking for to fill these bags:
Blankets
Knit cap
Playing Cards
Coloring Books
Crayons
Playdoh
Stuffed Animals
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If you can't donate at this time, but still want to get involved, we are going to need a lot of hands on deck to help us put together the bikes and assemble/decorate 125 Bags, 15 Bikes and 10 Apartment Kits. Let me know if you are interested in being a part of our Assembly Party in Roseville (time and location in November TBD). Last year we had quite an assembly line going in my house and it was great to see everyone getting to be a part of such a fun project.
Feel free to contact me at info@throwingstarfish.org for any questions about this project. Looking forward to another awesome year!