Once again, the Rochester Rotary, the Rochester Kiwanis, the Rochester Lions, and the Rochester Hills Lions Clubs have provided essential items for foster children, our state's most invisible and voiceless children. Currently, some 10,000 Michigan children are in foster care. And there are even more kinship families in which a grandparent, aunt, or uncle cares for a child when the biological parent cannot.
The four Rochester area service clubs collected new underwear, socks, pajamas, jeans, jackets, and diapers to help support children’s self-esteem. These are tangible expressions that there is a larger community that surrounds them and cares for them.
Thank you to everyone in the greater Rochester area for opening your hearts to children and youth who face unimaginable challenges. The estimated value is $6247.00.
This year’s community-wide effort resulted in:
- 886 diapers
- 43 pairs of pajamas
- 45 pairs of socks
- 318 pairs of underwear
- 8 pairs of sweatpants
- 5 sweatshirts
- 2 pairs of pants/jeans
- 2 jackets
- 15 handcrafted tote bags
- 3 pieces of luggage
- 6 packages of baby wipes
- 3 containers of baby formula
- 1 diaper bag
- 7 pairs of gloves/mittens
- 7 Beanie Babies
- 7 onesies
- 15 t-shirts
- 4 bralettes
- 10 pairs of underwear
- 2 cold-weather base layer tops
- 2 base layer pants
- 1 plush robe
- 1 wallet purse
- 1 pair of tennis shoes
- 3 women’s joggers/pants
- 9 pairs of jeans
- 2 knit hats
- 7 athletic bras
- 1 women’s sports top
These items are being delivered to the Macomb Foster Closet, Mandy’s Place Residential Center, True Vision Church and Community Mission Center, Friends of Foster Kids, Wayne State University’s program for foster care students, the Park West Foundation for women aging out of foster care, and individual foster/adoptive/kinship families who come to us in need.
These organizations will distribute the donations to children in Wayne, Oakland, Lapeer, Macomb, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and other counties throughout the state.