Current Drive
School Supplies | June 19-September 3
The average foster child experiences 3 home changes and loses up to 6 months of academic progress with each move. They are already facing an uphill battle; the last thing they should be worried about is making sure they have the correct school supplies.
You can help! Bring donations of new backpacks, crayons, pencils, notebooks and more to your local Mancini’s Sleepworld through September 3rd and we will work with the Ticket to Dream Foundation to ensure your donation is delivered to a local foster child to help them succeed this upcoming school year
Why Foster Youth Need Our Help
Many children enter foster care with just the clothes on their backs, making it necessary to replace essential items very quickly. For many foster families, however, the cost associated with doing this can be prohibitive. While foster parents do receive a stipend to cover basic needs, it is often not enough to cover all necessities.
- 1 child enters foster care every 2 minutes
- 25% suffer from PTSD
- Only 50% graduate from high school
- Less than 3% earn a college degree
- 80% do not have access to a computer
The average 17-18 year old reads at a 7th grade level
Want to make a difference?
There are many ways you can help foster youth in the Bay Area beat the odds.
Donate In-Store: We accept donations of new essentials at all of our Mancini’s Sleepworld locations.
Host a Collection Drive: Gather your friends, family or coworkers and collect new donations for the current collection drive. When you are finished, drop off your donations at your nearest Mancini’s Sleepworld where we will distribute to local foster youth.
Make an Online Donation: Donations made online will help the Ticket to Dream Foundation fulfill the greatest needs for local foster youth. All donations through Ticket to Dream are tax-deductible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for support?
Visit Ticket to Dream’s website to learn more about how they partner with local nonprofit foster care organizations to provide resources and essentials to foster youth. Foster care nonprofits can apply for support on their website.
Do donations need to be new?
Yes! Your donations of new essential items ensure foster youth can stand tall amongst their peers. New clothing, shoes, school supplies and more help to boost the self-confidence of these children who often enter care with little to no belongings.
What types of donations are needed?
For the School Supply Drive, anything you can find on the back-to-school aisle or on your child’s school list! Foster youth will need new backpacks, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, rulers, highlighters, glue sticks, calculators, notebooks, binders, lunch boxes, water bottles, and more!