The first 48 hours of a child’s move to a foster home are extremely sensitive and can be traumatic–and sisters Brandy Memory and Tonya Daniels wanted to do something to ease the transition. Together, they created Project 48, a non-profit that provides kits with new clothing, shoes, and toiletries for kids entering foster care. It’s an effort close to both of their hearts, and after chatting with these incredible women, it’s easy to see why. Read on to get inspired and see how you can contribute with product donations to foster care kids.
Lulus: So how did your organization start? What was the inspiration?
Brandy Memory: Tonya has been a foster parent for nine years and has had close to 30 placements in that time. Our vision was really born out of her firsthand experience as a foster parent. We saw these kids come into foster care with literally nothing but the clothes on their backs. Sometimes those clothes are not even salvageable. We saw a gap, specifically, in needs being met for teens.
Lulus: Wow. So you both have backgrounds in the foster world?
BM: Tonya has 9 years of experience as a foster parent. I’m a former Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth.
Lulus: Your organization is named for the crucial first 48 hours when kids enter foster care. Why are those first hours so important?
BM: The first 48 hours are a traumatic time for kids entering the foster care system. They have not only been taken from their home but likely have experienced some form of neglect or abuse that lead to that removal. This is a sensitive and fragile time for them.
Lulus: Ugh, we can only imagine. What do you include in each kit? Do you focus on trends or classic staples?
BM: Each bag contains a sweatshirt, joggers, leggings/shorts, t-shirts, socks, underwear, a pair of brand new shoes, a backpack or duffel bag, and a hygiene bin. We are all moms and most of us on our team have older kids, so we definitely love to get a good mix of classic and trendy for the kiddos.
Lulus: And why is it so important that these kids get brand new items, as opposed to hand-me-down donations?
BM: This was an easy one for me when we decided on this for our vision. We absolutely believe that these kids, in their most vulnerable and broken moments, deserve brand new clothing as opposed to hand-me-downs. We wanted them to feel like someone cared, that we value them. For kids, teens especially, clothing is huge. It’s part of fitting in.
Lulus: Of course. The pandemic has changed virtually everything–how has it affected the work your organization does?
BM: It has definitely affected the work we do, mostly by amplifying the need for support of the older foster youth. When the pandemic first hit, a lot of our older youth who live independently (not in foster care) really struggled to make ends meet. We added in grocery gift cards for additional support to our foster youth and families in need. It was also really obvious during our holiday bag drive, that we wanted to continue to go extra for these youth who had all had an especially hard year, and we did. We served 425 youth with amazing bags of holiday cheer!
Lulus: That’s incredible! Tonya, what made you and your husband decide to become foster parents?
Tonya Daniels: A family we knew had made the decision to start fostering, and it was like a light went on. My foster care knowledge was pretty much zero, but once I researched our local Child Welfare, I knew that we had to be a part of these kids’ lives. I sent in applications and within 3 months we were certified and had our first placement!
Lulus: Just amazing. Is there anything you wish people knew about foster kids and the foster system?
TD: Mostly, even though the system is broken and difficult to navigate sometimes, that doesn’t mean the kids are. It is, by far, the most incredible thing to love and learn about someone new–someone whose life may have looked different from yours, but their experience is so valuable and important. That we are better for having done this, we have met and loved some amazing kids AND birth parents. It has forever changed us for the better. I wish more people could see and know that part of it.
Lulus: (OK, we’re not crying, it’s fine.) So how can others help contribute to the cause?
BM: There are a few ways to make a great impact for us. Obviously, donations are vital to keeping our organization running. Aside from that, we have registries for people to shop. Essentially, they can buy a Project 48 bag for a youth of their age and gender choice. Most importantly is spreading the word about what we do. We dream of initiatives in every state that serve all ages of foster youth as they come into foster care.
Have you made donations to foster care? Tell us how you’re helping others in the comments–and check out how Lulus pitched in to give foster kids a fresh start on The Kelly Clarkson Show!
Join The Conversation (0)