Birthday Bags

Gift bags encourage and boost the self-esteem of each youth when they learn that the community cares and believes in their futures enough to invest in them like this.  Many have never experienced a birthday celebration in their honor.  Each resident (including those not state-supported) gets a gift bag for their birthday which includes a journal (cannot be spiral-wire bound), one pair of socks, and one activity such as an origami book, sketch book, colored pencils, washable markers or drawing pencils.

And ONE additional gift:

1. UNO or other card game
2. or Nerf Over the door basketball hoop (the ones that are about $7 at Walmart)
3. or cosmetic bag with lip gloss or face powder or eye shadow

Each gift bag is valued at about about $15-20 and are general in nature to keep items fair and to not create anxiety of favoritism between youth.