At any time in Washington state, there are between 4,000 and 5,000 children and youth in foster care. Treehouse, founded in 1988, is a leading nonprofit that addresses the academic and other essential support needs of those youths. They make the holidays better and brighter for thousands of kids.
Donation drive and how to get started
Holiday donation drives are essential to Treehouse’s mission of giving youth in foster care both a childhood and a future. These drives raise money to fund extracurricular activities like sports or music lessons for kids and ensure that Treehouse is stocked with gifts and essential items during the holiday season.
Any organization, individual or family can host a holiday donation drive. Treehouse will provide you with a toolkit, materials and guidance to make sure you have a successful drive, and Dana Petrarca, the community engagement officer at Treehouse, says, “it’s easy, fun and has such an impact on our most vulnerable youth.”
The toolkit includes:
- A unique online donation page
- Instructions, tips, tricks and helpful information
- Various ways to share about Treehouse and the drive
- A poster and a wishlist
- Donation gift tags
Treehouse suggests setting a $500 goal, but it can be adjusted to fit any size group. Support for in-kind donation drives focused on clothing and other essential items also is available.
Need ideas?
Here are a few fundraiser ideas that other parents have coordinated to help youth in foster care:
- Celebrate your baby’s first year—or any birthday—with a birthday party asking guests to bring clothes, toys, and school supplies to be donated to Treehouse.
- What do you do with a rock thrown through your window? One local are gallery put googly eyes on two rocks thrown that crashed through their class and then put the pair of Rocks of Destruction up for sale for the to benefitTreehouse.
- While shopping for clothes, asks your kids to also pick an outfit to donate to Treehouse. Parents who have done it say it’s a great way to help their kids understand that not everyone has the same resources.
To get started, visit the Treehouse website to sign up. Any individual or organization interested in hosting a holiday donation drive can also contact the office number 206-767-7000 or store (206-267-5185) or email drives@treehouseforkids.org.
Read more:
Give thanks and give back: Seattle-area volunteering opportunities for the holiday season
