Backpacks, clothes, shoes, rulers, pens, paper, art supplies…the list of items on a back-to-school list can seem daunting to any student and parent.
It can be even more stressful if you are a foster youth or foster parent, but not this year, thanks to a generous donation from local philanthropists David and Marilyn Dunn.
“We are so appreciative of everything our foster parents do, and back-to-school time is an additional financial burden on them,” said Margo Fudge, Adoptions Manager for the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. “An opportunity like this is a great thing for these families and the students heading back to classes.
“The smiles on the kids when they were told they got to spend as much as $200 on themselves were priceless,” she added.
Nearly 1,900 San Diego County foster youth age 11 and older will have the chance to fulfill their school needs at three shopping events at area Targets through the Dunns’ donation to the Promises2Kids Foundation, according to Fudge. The first shopping trip took place today.
“It’s truly amazing,” said Tonya Torosian, Promises2Kids CEO. “The kids couldn’t believe it.
“It was great seeing the kids be genuinely amazed that someone they didn’t know was generously stepping up and paying the bill because they wanted them to go back to school feeling good about themselves,” she added.
The Dunns have supported foster kids in the past by providing holiday shopping gift cards. . This year, they decided to add a back-to-school shopping – a decision spurred by the tough economic times schools and charities are facing.
Marilyn Dunn’s daughter Linda Dunn Winkler and two granddaughters joined her at the Mission Valley Target Tuesday morning as foster youth, parents and social workers arrived to fill their shopping carts.
“I got to go shopping with a girl going into eighth grade and her foster mother,” said Winkler. “Her foster parents have been doing this for 28 years and I thought ‘bless this woman’s heart.’
There are two more shopping events set up to accommodate the various schedules of foster parents, and Torosian said Promises2Kids is hoping to make this an annual event.
