Pictured: A Turning Points social worker picks up a Care Kit for a child she is placing in a foster home

Every day in Philadelphia, children enter the foster care system. Many come from a household of abuse or neglect. Resource parents (foster parents) and kinship caregivers (people related to the children) open their hearts and homes to these vulnerable youth.

Taking children out of unsafe living conditions and placing them with resource families is often traumatic for the child. To ensure safety, a lot of times a child must be removed from the home quickly, which leaves little or no time to pack up their personal belongings. This is where Turning Points’ Care Kits come in. 

What are Care Kits? 
          Duffel or diaper bags filled individually for each child based on their age and gender.
          Packed with a pillow, comfy PJs, toys or activities.
          Contains basic hygienic items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, etc.
          Care Kits for newborns and infants include diapers, bottles, and baby items. 
           
A Turning Points social worker recently told us how happy the care kits made the children under her care. She requested six kits, all for kids from the same family. When she gave them their duffel bags full of things that were now theirs to keep, their faces lit up. She told us that one of the children hugged their pillow and said that they didn’t have any of those at home. 

You can help bring a smile to a child. Contact Monika Kreidie at mkreidie@turningpoints.phmc.org to donate new items that can go into care kits, or fund Care Kits with a donation.

Turning Points would like to thank the many volunteers and partners who have made this program a success. To Independence Blue Cross, American Board of Internal Medicine, William Penn Charter School, Drexel University Pennoni Honor College, Mattress Firm, and many anonymous and individual donors, your support brings smiles to children who need it the most!