Every Child Central Oregon begins ‘Kick-Off Summer’ shoe drive for youth in foster care
REDMOND, Ore., (KTVZ) Last year, about 400 youth in Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes counties, as well as The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, spent at least one night in foster care. Expecting numbers to exceed that 2021 figure, Every Child Central Oregon is asking people regionwide to donate new shoes, which will go directly to kids impacted by foster care.
“An essential need for all children, new, quality shoes immediately give youth in foster care some hope they feel cared for and supported,” says Melissa Williams, director of ECCO, a regional nonprofit that mobilizes community to help address Central Oregon’s foster care challenges.