Service Project to Support College Students Aging Out of Foster Care

February 16, 2018
Packing tote bags for college students aging out of the Massachusetts foster care program – Courtesy image (c) 2018 all rights reserved

By Noah Southard
Bedford High School Class of 2019

Ready to deliver a carload of totes – Courtesy image (c) 2018 all rights reserved

Did you know that according to the US Department of Education approximately 400,000 children and youth are in the foster care system at any given time? Each year, about 20,000 of these students emancipate or “age out” of the system. What happens to these teenagers? The research shows that children in foster care are at very high risk of dropping out of high school and are unlikely to go to college. In Massachusetts, there is a tuition waiver program to help these students attend state colleges and universities. But without family support, these students have to work against the odds to succeed.

Led by Mrs. Shirley Fan-Chan, Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunstan, and Mrs. Cindy Fissette, a group of Bedford volunteers has been making care packages for close to 200 foster care college students each semester for the past several years along with Bedford students and St. Michael’s CCD classes. Last year, I got involved to help out along with my mentors Winnie and Richard Callahan at Callahan’s Karate. The group expanded the program by distributing care packages to college students who are experiencing homelessness.

The care packages are delivered by the Department of Children and Families social workers in the fall and spring as a show of support and encouragement to the students. Our next delivery will be this semester in March. Included in the care packages are helpful items that the students have shared that they need like toothbrushes and toothpaste, pens, folders, notebooks and hand sanitizers. Also included is a handwritten note of encouragement to each student.  Local dentists, Dr. Kathleen McCafferty at Chestnut Dental, Dr. Jason Gould and Dr. Dianne Bridgeman are kindly donating dental supplies for this semester.

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CAN YOU HELP?

This semester, our group wants to include a $10 gift card for each student to purchase any specific items that they need, such as batteries and personal care items. We are also collecting school supplies as donations at Callahan’s Karate. We can still use more support with gift cards, school supplies. and reusable grocery size tote bags.

If you can help by making a donation, please go to the sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0449a8ab2ba46-care or contact Noah Southard at [email protected]. Thank you.

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