Why it’s More Than a Backpack, and how you can help

Imagine watching your family fall apart. Being forced to pack your meager belongings in a garbage bag and getting taken to live with strangers. For more than 6,000 foster children in Alabama, this scenario isn’t make-believe. It’s the first scary step into the world of foster care.

Every single day Kids to Love receives calls for emergency assistance where we help support foster care placements with brand new clothing, shoes and other essentials. These are the very basics that many of us take for granted, and this is often the first scary step into the world of foster care. These children have lost their dignity and feel disposable, and it’s a harsh reality for 500,000 foster youth across the country.

At Kids to Love, we are dedicated to making sure our kids start off the schoolyear with their dignity restored. With a brand-new large backpack stocked with school supplies, these children will be ready to start off their school year with confidence. They will be able to focus on school work instead of worrying that they don’t have the supplies they need for class. And should they move again or find a forever family, they won’t need a garbage bag to transport their things. Because we know it’s “More than a Backpack” — it’s a fresh start for new opportunities and a chance for a better life.

This summer, we will pack more than 5,000 backpacks full of school supplies for children in foster care all across Alabama and Tennessee. It’s a huge undertaking, and we can’t do it without your help.

So what can I do?

Buy school supplies! We have a list of supplies that we need here. You can buy them wherever you like and drop them off at:

• Kids to Love Center – 140 Castle Drive, Madison
• Mix 96.9 – 8402 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville
• Any CB&S Bank branch

You can also buy supplies without leaving your home! Our Click, Ship & Give list on Amazon has all the items we need for our kids. Buy what you want and it ships directly to the Kids to Love Center!

You can also Host a Drive! We love the support we get from local businesses and community groups. If you’re interested, it’s easy! Just click here for info on how to start your own drive at work, church or neighborhood!

Or if you’re interested in getting even more hands on, you can volunteer to help pack backpacks in our warehouse! Click here to sign up!