Last week, many of you stopped by one of our four Welcome Box drop-off sites and donated bags of toiletries, art supplies, toys, and snacks for kids entering foster care. Some of you even gave finished boxes packed with fantastic items. Thank you!
We added your donations to some large donations from local churches and bulging bags from other individuals. By the time everything was gathered into one place, we had small mountains covering five different tables.
A bunch of my friends got together on Friday, sorting and organizing these items into finished Welcome Boxes. Many of our children jumped in, filling boxes right alongside their moms. This easily doubles the time and triples the noise, but it is also my favorite part of the morning. I loved watching them stack their finished boxes on the kitchen counter, proudly saying something like, “This is my third box! I filled it with things I would like!”
Grand total: 191 boxes!
These finished boxes have been delivered to our Welcome Box coordinator, who will deliver them to DHS offices in the Portland-metro area in the coming weeks. Caseworkers will hand these boxes to kids entering care, something special to hang onto during a traumatic time in their lives.
To the FLNW reader who donated several finished Welcome Boxes at the SW Portland drop site, you are awesome. I got all choked up just reading this and seeing the care that went into the boxes you packed.
Thanks to my amazing friends and generous individuals like you in our community, we have assembled and delivered a total of 275 Welcome Boxes during 3 different Welcome Box Parties. Go here for more information on organizing your own Welcome Box Party.
Remember, there is an ongoing need for Welcome Boxes for kids entering foster care. Go here for all the details on assembling and dropping off finished boxes.
Thanks again for your donations!
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Hi! We were so inspired when we heard about this project that we decided instead of buying gifts for family this year, we will make Welcome Boxes on their behalf. Our original goal was to make 5 girl/5 boy boxes (for 2 to 4 year olds), but we put out the message to our friends and family and now hope to get 10 girl/10 boy boxes made. We’re in Portland and if there are any of you out there still wanting to contribute items to our effort, our goal is to have all the supplies in hand by Dec. 14th and deliver the boxes the next week.
Please contact me if you’d like to get involved! (Jana at 360yardware.com)! We made a web page keeping track of everything we’re hoping to collect, and making a note when someone has spoken for an item. That page is http://www.360yardware.com/welcome-box.htm.
Thanks!
Jana
Awesome. I need to look out for more stuff like that.
WOW! I am tearing up looking at the photos and thinking about the kids who will receive these. Thank you FLNW and friends.
This is an incredibly generous and thoughtful this to do for these kids. Wonderful job to you and the other contributors!
FLNW this is one of the reasons I love this site. Not only do we save for our families, we learn about being frugal to pass it on too. You ROCK!
Here is one more reason I love this site. I have 5 adopted children in addition to my three by birth. They came with absolutely nothing and were so traumatized. Having a small box of goodies they can call their own would have been fabulous. I don’t know if there is one for babies but that is a growing need also. Many babies I picked up from the hospital had not a stitch of clothing or a blankie:(
Suzanne
That is SO cool. I used to be a foster parent for kids under six whose moms were in crisis. The kids were always not great in the hygiene dept b/c the moms had been too busy to worry about baths. Bubble bath is good but don’t forget that some kids are allergic to scents and the liquid that the bubble bath are made of. The little ones just liked something they could get down on the floor and play with in a small space and the bigger ones loved watching our fishtank. Things that make sounds might be difficult for the workers, but things with headphones would probably be especially appreciated for both soc worker and kiddo. I’m sure you’ve thought of it all but wanted to offer a few ideas. Great job!
I think this is one of the most awesome things that FLNW does!! I’m starting to gather a bunch of stuff so I can put together some boxes and donate extra stuff to the cause. This is truly something very special 😉
Hally,
We’re collecting items to try to put together 10 girl and 10 boy boxes for 2-4 year olds (Jillana said that was an area they could use more boxes). We’ve put it out to friends and family too and are trying to have items in hand (in Portland) by Dec. 14th so we can deliver the boxes the next week. Please get in touch if you’d like to drop anything off here. (Jana at 360yardware.com). Thanks!
Jana