Citing a “desperate” need for age-and-size appropriate clothing for teens in foster care, For The Seventh Generation has launched a campaign for donations through its Help Closet program. In addition to the clothing drive, the foster children’s charity is seeking donations of new toys and other items for its annual Holiday Bazaar.
“We have a lot of children’s clothing, and several items in adults’ sizes — but nothing for the teenagers,” said Help Closet coordinator Shirley Roseman. “We’re having to turn away foster care workers who are coming in looking for age-appropriate clothes in teens’ sizes.”
“While our state’s foster care system does provide a very small stipend for clothing, the amount allotted doesn’t come close to matching the need — particularly in the case of fast-growing teens,” added For The Seventh Generation Executive Director Lorraine Weber. “Teenagers in foster care already face a host of challenges that their peers in more traditional homes don’t — being forced to dress in ill-fitting and/or age-inappropriate clothing adds unnecessarily to their burdens.”
To meet the need, For The Seventh Generation is reaching out via social media and other channels in hopes of securing new and nearly-new teens’ clothing from parents, church groups, and even retail stores with extra stock.
“Are you getting rid of the sweater that your son received for his birthday that he wore only once or those jeans that don’t quite fit your daughter? Those items would be Godsends to our teens in foster care. In addition, if there are any clothing stores out there getting ready to write off their leftover stock of winter items, we can help them with a tax deduction for their donation — and some free publicity to thank them for helping ‘our’ kids look
and feel their best,” Roseman said.
Toys, other items needed for Holiday Bazaar
In addition to the teens’ clothing drive, For The Seventh Generation is preparing for its annual Holiday Bazaar for foster children, which will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 17. During this event, which is not open to the public, foster children who are 12 years or younger, are invited to “shop” for a present for their foster parents or siblings while foster care workers select items for the children. The event includes holiday-themed crafts, refreshments, and volunteers on hand to wrap the selected gifts.
“We’re looking for new toys, electronics, board games — any and everything you can imagine that would make a child smile on Christmas morning,” said Roseman. “Our hope is to make this holiday a joyous one for many foster children and their families.”
Over seventy foster children, families, and foster care workers attended the 2012 Bazaar.
How to help
Those wishing to make a donation of teens’ clothing or of any items for the Holiday Bazaar are invited to contact Shirley Roseman at helpcloset@detroitlawyer.org. To make a monetary donation for the purchase of either clothing for teens in foster care or for items for the annual Holiday Bazaar, visit the organization’s website at www.fortheseventhgeneration.org. Volunteers are also needed — contact Shirley Roseman for details.
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