Foster Hope

Sweet dreams for kids in need Thousands of Kiwi kids are put into foster care every year. Many arrive in their new homes in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothing on their backs. As temperatures across the nation are dropping, Auckland charity Foster Hope is warming up for its annual Pyjama Drive. The aim is to collect a minimum of 1,000 pairs of pyjamas to give to foster children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. Foster Hope Chairperson Louise Allnutt says: gMany children entering care may never have owned a pair of pyjamas and a lot would never have had a brand new set of their own. Buying a pair of pyjamas is a simple thing that most people can afford to do. We want to give children in need a pair of pyjamas so that they can go to sleep knowing someone cares about them.h About 5000 children live in foster homes at any one time in New Zealand. Many children who need a new family have experienced some degree of physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect. Foster Hope was set up in 2010 to provide children going into foster care with the basics ? such as clothing, underwear, nappies, toothpaste and shampoo - everyday items most of us take for granted. These items are put into colourful backpacks and given to youngsters on arrival. ""Because they've been whipped away from their home so quickly, kids usually come with little or no belongings. Those who do have some clothes with them usually carry them in a rubbish sack,h says Louise, gWe set up Foster Hope because we want these children to know that someone cares. No child should be made to feel like their belongings are rubbish and caregivers should be able to focus on the emotional needs of a child, rather than having to run around doing last minute shopping.h Since the charity was set up, it has given out packs to over 1000 foster children across New Zealand. It now has four branches nationwide ? with the latest opening in Tauranga in March 2012 ? and there are plans for further expansion. Last yearfs inaugural Pyjama Drive collected over 1000 pairs. gWe are constantly amazed at the generosity of Kiwis and would love you to join us in any way you can so that we can help to make these childrenfs lives a little more bearable,h says Louise If you would like to donate a new set of pyjamas or other childrenfsf goods, visit http://www.fosterhope.co.nz"" for details of what is needed and a list of nationwide drop off points. Or email Louise Allnutt at fosterhopenz@gmail.com. To find out how to become a foster parent, call (09) 625 0550 or see: www.barnardos.org.nz http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/6944871/1000-pyjamas-needed-for-cold-lonely-kids"" http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/6944871/1000-pyjamas-needed-for-cold-lonely-kids