Backpacks for Foster Kids
There are roughly 750 children in the Manatee County child welfare system. They have entered the system because of abuse, neglect, trauma or abandonment. These precious children will bounce from foster home to foster home an average of four times―carrying their only belongings in garbage bags.
The Junior League of Manatee County providesbackpacks and school supplies to these children, giving them all the supplies they need to start the school year off right--just like the others. In January, we host a party to replenish these supplies. This year, the Backpacks committee treated the foster children and their families to a carnival-themed event with games, food, and fun. In addition to replenishing the children’s school supplies, each child was fitted with a brand-new bicycle helmet and a new pair of sneakers. To replace the garbage bags, hundreds of sturdy duffel bags were donated by Junior League members and sustainers to provide these children a more dignified, long-lasting means of transporting their belongings from place to place.
If you’d like to get involved by donating items or helping to sponsor this event, please click here.
To donate items to this event, please contact the JLMC office at 941.748.0101.
We are in need of:
- school supplies
- backpacks
- shoes
- games
- duffel bags
- clothing – socks and underwear
- healthy snack food items
- sidewalk chalk
Backpacks Winter Carnival
The weather was beautiful and the kids had a blast. Things couldn’t have been more perfect at our 2nd Annual Foster Children Party at League Headquarters on January 10, 2009. This year we choose a carnival theme and had nine carnival games including ring toss, tug of war and a craft station. Everyone enjoyed pizzas, drinks and popcorn and the foster families even took home extra boxes of pizza. At the event, we provided a new pair of tennis shoes for each foster child. Both foster children and biological children received school supplies for the second half of the school year, a personally fitted bike helmet and coupon to Chick-fil-A for free nuggets.
Alex Kamberis from the Safe Children’s Coalition attended our Winter Carnival with his son and had a great time catching up with some of the families. Alex has asked that we share this message, “Please extend my thanks to your organization for organizing and hosting the Carnival this past weekend. You have been a strong community partner this past year and we look forward to continuing our relationship”. Next year we hope to work with this organization to find ways to reach more foster families. We had a total of 30 children attend the event, 19 of which were foster children. The parents at the event were so grateful for all the items we provided and for taking the time to organize a day specifically for those who are some times forgotten.
We would like to thank each and every JLMC member who volunteered their time at this event. Volunteers included: Rebecca Murphy, Toni Needham, Susan Dewitt, Chris Ebling, Bethany Johnson, Suzanne Dillingham, Shannon Daugherty, Jennifer Carriker, Christy Cardillo, Lori Lewis, Vera McGill, Heather Kortzendort, Kara Bettle, Katy White, Mimi Sheffer, Mary Ann Lawler, and Susan McSwain. We would also like to thank Chick-fil-A (Creekwood Plaza on SR 70 – Jonathan & Lisa Ith) for providing free coupon cards for each child at the event. Thank you to Payless Shoes for the discount they gave us on all 19 pairs of tennis shoes we purchased. And also thank you to Moore Employer Solutions for allowing us to use their popcorn machine.
Summer Backpacks Party
In August we provided backpacks and school supplies together with the Safe Children’s Coalition. The children enjoyed a day of fun at the Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota and picked up their backpacks stuffed with school supplies for the new school year.