How we're helping foster care teens in the Chippewa Valley
Eau Claire - Stokes+HERZOG owners Chris Herzog and Sarah Stokes recently launched a donation drive called “We Understand” to help supply new undergarments for teens and tweens in foster care in the Chippewa Valley area, and they are asking community members for their help. Underwear, sports bras, and training bras are number one when it comes to the products most needed right now.
“A lot of kids entering foster care come in with just the clothes on their backs,” Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Inc. Foster Care Services Supervisor, Allison Novak said.
By building up a collection of undergarments, area social workers will be able to hand out these necessities to children when they are placed in a new home. May is Foster Care Awareness month, so now is the perfect time to make a generous donation to the drive.
“This is a basic need that no kid should have to worry about, especially a child in pain or in a crisis situation,” co-owner Sarah Stokes said.
“Imagine, how challenging it would be being a young person going through tough life transitions while living in a completely new environment. It’s a stressful situation that has a solution, which is why we need to come together as a community to create a stash that social workers can use to ease concerns,” Stokes added.
“It’s with the help of our community and projects like this that we are able to make a difference,” Novak said.
Stokes+HERZOG is asking the community to drop off new undergarments, in various sizes for boys and girls in the age range from 10-18 years old.
Community members are welcome to stop by Stokes+HERZOG office with any donations between 9-5 Monday through Friday at 415 E Clairemont Avenue. The donation drive will run until Thursday, June 7, 2018. Donations are also being accepted at The Joyful Doc Clinic at 1906 Brackett Avenue and at That’s Adorable!, Kid’s Consignment Boutique at 129 N Barstow Street.
Thank you in advance for your contribution! Let’s come together as a community to help Tweens and teens in foster care by showing them that “We Understand.”
If you’d like to arrange an interview, contact:
Sarah Stokes, Organizer of “We Understand”
(715) 797-1317
Allison Novak
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan INc. Foster Care Services Supervisor
(715) 552-2496
