Background Info on the Red Scarf Project

Quoting in part from the Orphan Foundation of America, sponsor of this program:

OFA's Care Package Program focuses attention on the plight of unadopted foster youth, and their need for post-secondary educational and career opportunities. 

Care packages from home are a practical and emotional lifeline for most college students. But thousands of former foster youth can only look on as their roommates and friends open boxes from home filled with love and support.

OFA has been sending care packages to students since 1993. The packages typically include snacks, dorm accessories, school supplies and toiletries donated by national companies and organizations.

Studies show less than 50% of foster youth graduate from high school, and less than 10% go on to post-secondary education or vocational training. The Orphan Foundation of America advocates for older foster youth who were never adopted and provides a comprehensive scholarship program. OFA administers over $11.5 million in scholarship and state voucher money to students in all 50 states.

"Receiving a Care Package is more than just getting stuff, it's evidence that someone cares," said OFA Executive Director Eileen McCaffrey. "In this rich country we can afford to reach out to every young person who has no family and invest in their dreams. A Care Package shows them they are valued and an important part of the community."

"Jesse," an OFA scholarship recipient at the University of Michigan, wrote last year, "I was very excited to receive this package ... since I don't get mail from anyone. I feel lonely from time to time. So when I receive a package, I realize I'm really not alone."

The Care Package Program is part of OFA's mission to offer these youngsters help, guidance and encouragement as they endeavor to become productive adults, employees and citizens.

The red scarves that knitters and crocheters make for this project will be put in Valentine's Day 2007 care packages for these very brave young people who, despite many hardships, are attending college.  Getting these packages will let them know they are cared for and hopefully give them encouragement to stay the course.  Think of the scarf you make as a hug for someone who, despite all odds, is working hard to get an education and trying to make his or her life, and therefore the life of our extended community, better. 

I know how much college kids love to receive care packages.  All humility aside, I think I am a champion care package sender to my daughter and her friends. My daughter has been living away from home for the school year now for going on eight years.  She is comparatively privileged.  We are not wealthy.  We have made many sacrifices in order to be able to send her to the schools she has wanted to attend, and continue to work hard to pay the tuition and the bills.  But we are an extremely close threesome (she is our only child) and she has as much support and love as anyone I can probably think of.  She is independent and self-assured, but boy, does she love those packages and mail from home. 

I don't spend a lot of money for the things inside of my care packages -- many of them are handmade things such as the t-shirt tops I've been writing about in my blog recently.  She and her friends just love getting something - anything - in the mail.  Funny notes, newspaper clippings, whatever.  Some parents don't seem to keep up with the packages as much as I do, but some people don't even have any caring people in their lives to send them anything.  That's what this program is about -- sending care packages to those perhaps most in need of some encouragement.

What many people don't realize is that many of these young people don't even have a place to go on school breaks.  This phenomenon was highlighted to me when Abigail was in boarding school, when it suddenly hit me that the dorms are closed down and people are told they must vacate by 4 p.m. on a certain date.  The school would make arrangements with local families, for a fee, to foster-house some of the international students who could not afford to go home.  It's the same scenario at college.  Where do these people who have aged out of foster care go?  It tugs at my heart.  Some of them may still have relationships with their old foster families, but I am quite sure that is a very tiny percentage.

Want some eye candy?  Last year Gale went down to the packing party for the Red Scarf care packages. Go see here.
 

Comments

[Christine]

Thanks for that. I have a skein of red yarn that had no destiny (that I knew of), and I can't wait to figure out a pattern to use it in.

[Kathleen]

Hi
Where do I send something I knited in red?...thanks.Kathleen

[Pennie]

OK = I want to sign up, what do I do, Please email me all the details. This sounds outstanding :)

[Joan Jeffers]

I have tried to find any rules regarding the knitted scarves but was unsuccessful. If there are any, please forward or forward any other useful information. Thanks, Joan

[Joan Jeffers]

So sorry, now that I have read ALL the information, I have everything I need. Thanks for all your hard work. Joan