Did you know that there are over 40 schools in CMS alone that require school uniforms? This is often a big need for kids entering foster care if they are switching school.

Our most requested school uniform items are: Uniform polos - white/navy and khaki shorts/pants in Girls and Boys size Small through XL as well as Men/Women sizes Small/Med/Large.

Other needs:

• Underwear- Boys/Girls 6-16

• Underwear - Women/Men S-L.

• Sports bras, all sizes

• Kids summer (warm weather) pajamas - all sizes, infant through teen.

• Grocery and gas gift cards ($50 increments work best)

• Sweatshirts for teens, all sizes (Name brand preferred: Champion, Nike, Addidas, etc.)

• Spanish/English children’s books

INFANTS/BABIES

Multi-ethnic dolls

Sorting/nesting/stacking/shape toys, blocks

Pull/push/musical toys, V-tech, electronic education toys

PRE-SCHOOL/KIDS

Multi-ethnic dolls & Barbies, especially those where you can style their hair

Educational, interactive toys or science kits

Bikes, ride-on toys, scooters

Sturdy cars or trucks, remote control cars and trucks

Role play toys (kitchen sets, dress-up costumes, workshops & tools, lawn keeping)

Action/superhero figures, animal/dinosaur figures and play sets (Esp. TV & movie characters like Marvel, DC, Paw Patrol, Doc McStuffins, Disney Princess, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers etc.)

Building blocks & construction sets, Legos

YOUTH/TEENS

Arts/crafts supplies, kits (e.g., tie-dying, candle-making, jewelry-making, etc.)

Hair accessories (bands, bows), make up, cosmetics, lip gloss, fragrance & cologne (men's and women's)

Cool lamps and bedroom décor, LED light strips

Hoop earrings, fake eyelashes, nail polish

Headphones, wireless earbuds, mp3 players, Blutooth speaker

Electronic drawing pads

Pokemon Cards

Journals, notebooks, drawing or sketching supplies

Decorative pillows, blankets

Fanny packs, small purses, small backpacks, sling bags

Water bottles (name-brand)

Jewelry for teens

ALL

Puzzles & games for all ages

Crafts & art supplies

Sporting goods and accessories, balls, outdoor play items

Bikes, skates, roller blades, skateboards, scooters and helmets/pads

No. Foster care is such a fluid situation and we cannot predict which children will be in care or where they will be living by Christmas time. Our wish-lists are designed to help you purchase our top requested needs and items by both the kids themselves and their social workers who shop for them during Merry Market in December. Read more about the programs these gifts will support below.

Christmas in July serves two purposes. The first is to give your entire family or group of friends/co-workers an opportunity to come serve and engage in all four of CFK’s pathways in one afternoon. The second is to help support CFK’s Merry Market event in December which provides gifts to kids in foster care during the holidays. For some, the gifts received through Merry Market will be the only gifts they receive all year. Read more about Merry Market below!

Please leave the gifts unwrapped as they will be displayed during our Merry Market for social workers to come “shop” for the kids on their caseloads in December.

All kids deserve to be safe and cared for. Sometimes parents aren't able to do these things and so other families called foster families open up their homes for the child to stay until their parents get the help they need.

Foster care is temporary, while adoption is forever.

The goal is always to get kids back with their families as soon as it's safe, healthy, and possible. Sometimes that takes a few months and other times it can take up to two years. The average for a child staying in care in our area ia about 1.5 - 2 years.

Most of the time, when parents need support there are other family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and trusted neighbors that can offer help. Foster care is only necessary when there is no other support to be found in the child's community.

Pray for them.

Meet tangible needs through CAREnow.

Serve as a volunteer.

Your family can be encouragers for social workers through our Socialight program.