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Date: 10/5/2022
LONGMEADOW – Throughout the month of October, the Richard Salter Storrs Library is collecting donations to let foster care youth who have gone off to college know that they have support.
“This year, in Massachusetts, there are over 200 young adults [from foster care] going to college,” said Storrs Library Director Jean Maziarz.
To help them physically and emotionally, the library is taking part in a College Care Package Donation Drive from Rise Above.
Rise Above is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served more than 10,000 youth in foster care in Massachusetts since its inception in 2009. The organization enriches the lives of children in foster care and provides a sense of normalcy by funding activities and experiences, such as bicycles, prom expenses or basketball camp.
According to Rise Above, less than 3 percent of foster youth go to college. The College Care Package Drive is intended to help provide the emotional and financial support that students might otherwise receive from their families.
“It’s important for us to be a contributing member of our community,” said Maziarz. “Libraries are a vital part of community support.”
The library hosted an in-person event on Oct. 4 with a representative from Rise Above, who shared more information on the organization and the purpose of the drive. A drop-off location for donations is set up in the front library lobby.
Items that the library is collecting for the care packages include school supplies, such as highlighters, sticky notes, and pens; hand sanitizer, ear buds, small or travel size toiletries and other items that students may need while away at school.
College students have to eat, so the drive is also looking for instant rice or soup packets, Easy Mac, ramen, packaged cookies, candy and gum, miniature cereal boxes, granola bars, healthy snacks, microwave popcorn, coffee and tea, hot chocolate, water flavor packets and other gluten and nut-free snacks.
They are also collecting gift cards for food and beverages from Dunkin’, Starbucks and Domino’s, and for stores like Walmart, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
“We wouldn’t take cash, but really things that a student might want in a dorm room,” Maziarz said. “it’s so valuable to let these young people know there are people who care and are there for them.”
To learn more about Rise Above, visit https://weriseabove.org or call 855-246-8850. For more information on Storrs Library, visit https://www.longmeadowlibrary.org.