Organization: The Freeborn County Foster Care Backpack Project

Project: Providing individualized backpacks for children entering the foster care system.

Report: The Freeborn County Foster Care Backpack Project was started four years ago by the Albert Lea Lakeview Lions Club.

According to a press release, the group is very grateful to have received a Freeborn County Communities Foundation grant for the past three years. The grant has enabled the group to serve children from birth to 18 years old in Freeborn County who cannot safely live with their family.

In those instances, a foster family steps in to give them the love and care they need. That’s when the group offers help with the Foster Care Backpack Project.

The club puts together individualized backpacks to be given to these children. The purpose is to offer comfort to them during this transition time. Some of the items that may be included in the backpack are diapers, personal toiletry items, underwear, socks and clothing, as well as school supplies, baby beanies and a blanket or pillow.

During the past three years, the group has been able to help over 100 Freeborn County foster children. It has attended several foster care family meetings, hosted a family picnic and is in communication regularly with Freeborn County Social Services.

This grant will help the organization continue its work to serve the foster care children in Freeborn County.