I am a mom to four grown children who we raised in Contra Costa County. I was shocked when I learned that there are consistently over 2,200 children in the foster care system in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. I did a little digging and learned that most local foster care agencies do not have timely funding to provide basic necessities to children when they enter the foster care system or transition to a new home. If they did not pack it, they do not have it. And it usually takes weeks for a foster family to receive a clothing grant.

What could I do to help? Frankly, not enough on my own. So I reached out to others in my community (and my family!), and we launched Set To Thrive in August of 2021 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to support our most vulnerable children – children that are experiencing foster care.

It is easy to understand that when children are removed from their homes, it is a moment of extreme stress and usually traumatic. When they are physically removed from their home, there is a social worker, a police officer, and a guardian. They are given maybe 15 - 20 minutes to grab their belongings. If they do not have a bag, they are given a garbage bag. Just for a moment, put yourself in that child’s place, packing a garbage bag. 

• What are they (you) going to pack? 

• What is going through their (your) mind in that moment? 

They (you) likely grab a stuffed animal, a favorite blanket (if you have one), or maybe a toy – something that comforts them (you) in that moment. They (you) probably don’t grab any essential items like underwear, socks, or a toothbrush. We receive many orders for kids who don’t have shoes and only the clothes they are wearing.

And that’s just the initial removal and placement. Many children in California’s foster care system experience frequent placement changes. 44% of the kids in foster care for 24 months or longer have 3 or more placements. 15% experience 5 or more placements. Maybe it gets easier each time, but not likely. Set To Thrive is here to provide a Thrive Bag in those moments as well.