Fostering Love Here in Pittsburgh

In 2015, over 20,000 kids were served through the foster care system in Pennsylvania alone. Many of these kids are taken to a foster home with no belongings or a few items thrown into a trash bag. If that breaks your heart as much as it does ours, we know how you can help!

The Foster Love Project provides filled bags (this means a sturdy bag filled with clothes, toiletries, and comfort items) to be given to kids at time of a placement with a foster family. It’s vital to give them a good quality bag to reassure them that neither they nor their belongings are disposable. For the past few years, Pittsburghers have been donating stuffed bags to the Foster Love Project, to the tune of over 3,000 bags which have now been distributed to over 21 agencies and shelters in 10 counties through Western PA!

Levana Bratique will once again serve as a drop-off location for the Foster Love Project, which means you can stop by any time we are open to drop off supplies. The project sorts the prepared bags by age/gender, which means a teen bag would include items appropriate and sized for teens, while an infant bag would include baby items, etc.

A placement bag includes (new items only, tags left on):

• Duffle bag or large backpack (or zippered diaper bag for infants)
• 2 pairs of pajamas (one summer, one winter)
• Socks
• A small blanket
• Stuffed animal (or small pillow for teen bags)
• Book
• Toothbrush & toothpaste (flouride free for under 5)
• Puff & body wash (please place in ziplock)

Optional additions:

• formula/bottle
• pacifier
• wipes
• diapers
• socks/underwear
• hats/mittens
• nightlight/flashlight
• journal
• coloring book/crayons
• comb/brush
• teens: deodorant, lotion, feminine products

*These additions are wonderful as long as they can fit in the bag you provide and still be zipped closed.

We know a complete bag can add up to a bit of an expense, so if that's a bit outside your means but you still want to help, you could:

• team up with another family to complete a bag
• purchase items from the project's online wish list
• consider donating a gift card. Gift cards are given to foster families to buy supplies during times of transition and can be mailed to Foster Love Project, c/o The Bair Foundation, 3755 Library Rd # 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15234

If you aren't local to Pittsburgh but want to help, the wish list and gift cards are a great way to do so! We are so thrilled to be part of this project once again. Bags are being collected until December 15. Let's fill our store with love!