Children of Hope: Backpacks for Foster Kids February Mission Project

For children, being removed from their homes to be placed in foster care is a traumatic experience. The Adult Ministry team is excited to sponsor Children of Hope in partnership with Polk County Human Services to help ease their pain. We hope to eliminate one small thing that makes the move even more upsetting: the use of large black garbage bags to transport their belongings. With a backpack, children can travel from their home to foster care, to school and other activities, and for overnight visits home. With a backpack, children can travel with dignity and have something to call their own.

How Can you Help? Adult Ministry class participants and all small groups are invited to collect new backpacks during the month of February to donate to a child entering foster care. While the backpacks alone are a blessing to the children, additional items can be helpful in their transition. A new hairbrush/comb and a toothbrush/paste will be placed in each backpack along with one of the following age-appropriate items: a small, new stuffed animal; a travel game; or a journal/pen.  

Where do we place our donations? All items listed above can be placed in the collection boxes at the Missions Center until March 1. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Zmolek, at nancy.zmolek@hopewdm.org or 422-9145.

Thank you for making a child’s load a little easier to carry during their journey through foster care.