Three Sartell Women Team Up to Help Foster Children Locally

I came across an article about three woman who wanted to help foster children right here in central Minnesota. I reached out to Lisa Schroers to learn more about this wonderful non-profit organization.

Here's the email Lisa sent to me about "Pockets of Hope" and the fundraiser coming up on Sunday, April 19th at the Blue Line Sports Bar and Grill in Sartell. 

Pockets of Hope is a new nonprofit that aims to help ease the transition for children entering foster care. We fill backpacks with self care items as well as comfort items. Backpacks are individualized by age and gender; but, all backpacks contain pajamas, socks, underwear, a book, a blanket, and a flashlight. Many of the children placed into foster care do not have much; and, what they do have is thrown in a garbage bag to transport. We try to give these kids something they can claim as their own, give a fun distraction to the turmoil going on in their life and new, clean personal items to use until their new family can purchase what they need.

The three of us, Jennifer, Briana, and myself got to know each other through my daycare. Each year I pick a charity and ask my daycare families to get involved. A couple years ago, I found a program giving bags to foster children in the twin cities and participated. We saw there was a huge need for a program serving foster children in our area. We decided to team up and get Pockets of Hope started.

People can help by donating money, donating items to fill the backpacks, or by filling a complete backpack for a child. A full list of what goes into a backpack by age and gender can be found on our website. Pockets of Hope is holding a fundraiser Sunday, April 19 at The Blue Line Bar and Grill in Sartell 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. There will be raffles and drawings, as well as 20% of all business made will be donated to Pockets of Hope.

For more information on Pockets of Hope visit their website or connect on Facebook.