Foster Hope (originally known as “Kits2Kids”) was established in 2010 to help give practical support to caregivers of foster children. Many foster children would arrive on the doorstep of these caregivers late at night with very little in the way of belongings, sometimes just the clothes on their back.

Foster Hope have been supporting foster families for over 13 years now. Every year they supply over 3,000 backpacks to children in care, over 10,000 Christmas presents, over 5,000 pyjama sets and more than 2,500 knitted, craft or quilted items. These efforts ensure that these children have the best chance of achieving positive outcomes in their lives and allow foster parents to focus on the emotional and physical needs of the child.

Zonta District 16 is proud to support Foster Hope for the biennial project, with the provision of two comprehensive educational resource reference books for pre-teen or teenage years girls supplied within their backpacks. These books cover everything including friends, body changes, feelings, body image, bullies, being online and how to be happy with your own true self. Both books are written by Kaz Cooke and are age specific with one book aimed at girls between the age of 8 – 12 years and the second aimed at girls 13+ years of age.

Check out their website to find out more about the wonderful work Foster Hope are doing at fosterhope.org.nz.

Foster Hope believes that every child in care deserves to know that their community cares about them.