Imagine your child going off to college without the loving support of his or her family. Every year thousands of foster children aged out of the system will embark on the journey of going off to college. These children will attend college feeling scared, lonely and unsure of things. They do not have someone to give them moral support and listen to them when they have had a bad day. There is not anyone waiting back home to hear how school is going, send care packages, or love and support them.

Orphan Foundation of America supports and helps foster children attending college by sending care packages. What a wonderful way to let a child know that someone cares about him or her. Anyone can be involved and show support to a foster child.

Ways you or others can help:

Send cards (store bought or homemade) offering words of support and encouragement.

Gift cards from national shopping, fast food chains or websites (amazon.com., bookstores, etc.) these are favorites with college kids.

Shampoo, lotion, other toiletries, school supplies, and snacks.

Care packages are sent throughout the year to offer continued support, so donations are always needed.

Another wonderful way to help is to set up a bulk collection at work, church, or any other place to collect item for the care packages.

For children that have been abandoned, this is much needed support and encouragement. Think about how you would feel if you did not have someone to offer you words of encouragement. Think where we might have ended up with someone encouraging us along our journey.

Below is the address to send all items for the care packages and the phone number if you should have questions.

Attn: Care Packages
21351 Gentry Drive, Suite 130
Sterling, VA 20166

Annalisa Assaadi
National Events Coordinator for OFA
at 571-203-0270