Partnership for Strong Families (PSF) is holding a Back-to-School drive to help more than 650 youth in the North Central Florida foster care system get the supplies they need for the upcoming school year.
According to a PSF press release, foster care youth face multiple challenges when it comes to their education, which includes changing schools during the school year until placement stability is found. Acquiring school supplies is also needed to help foster children with their academic success.
“PSF’s Back-to-School drive allows our community to support the youth we serve, along with their foster parents, relatives, and non-relative caregivers,” said Ginger Griffeth, CEO of Partnership for Strong Families. “Many of these families are caring for multiple children, which makes providing school supplies a significant financial challenge.”
To help with the cause, supplies can be found on PSF’s Amazon Wish List by clicking here. PSF asks anyone donating via Amazon to include their name and email in the notes section of the order. Donations can be dropped off at 5950 NW 1st Place, Ste. 300, in Gainesville.
Other ways to help with the drive include business sponsorships, hosting a school supply donation bin at your club or business or making a monetary donation by clicking here.
“This drive is also a great opportunity to show our students what a phenomenal resource PSF is to our community. Volunteering to fill backpacks with school supplies for youth in care is always an amazing experience,” said Sarah Blanc, civic engagement and services specialist at Santa Fe College. “This drive is also a great opportunity to fill backpacks with school supplies for youth in care is always an amazing experience.”
Volunteers who want to fill backpacks July 15–19 at the United Way of North Central Florida in Gainesville can sign up here.