Do This: Pay Fashion Forward to Help Foster Teens in ‘Desperate’ Need

For The Seventh Generation, a Detroit area charity that provides services to children in foster care that exceed the ability of the foster care system, says it’s in desperate need of age- and size-appropriate clothing for teens.

The charity, a program of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation in cooperation with the 3rd Judicial Circuit of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Human Services, has launched the clothing drive through its Help Closet program.

“We have a lot of children’s clothing, and several items in adults' sizes – but nothing for the teenagers,” Help Closet Coordinator Shirley Roseman said in a news release. “We're having to turn away foster care workers who are coming in looking for age-appropriate clothes in teens' sizes.”

Lorraine Weber, the charity’s executive director, said that though the Michigan foster care system provides a small stipend for clothing, “the amount doesn’t come close to matching the need, particularly in the case of fast-growing teens.”

She said teenagers in foster care already face a host of challenges that their peers in more traditional homes don’t, such as being forced to dress in ill-fitting or age-inappropriate clothing.

That “adds unnecessarily to their burdens,” Weber said.

To meet the need, For The Seventh Generation is reaching out via social media and other channels in hopes of securing new and nearly-new teens' clothing from parents, church groups, and even retail stores with extra stock.

“Are you getting rid of the sweater that your son received for his birthday that he wore only once or those jeans that don't quite fit your daughter? Those items would be Godsends to our teens in foster care,” Roseman said.

For The Seventh Generation officials also asked clothing stores that may be preparing to write off the leftover stock of winter items to consider donating to the Help Closet.

“We can help them with a tax deduction for their donation – and some free publicity to thank them for helping 'our' kids look and feel their best,” Roseman said.

Toys, Other Items Needed for Holiday Bazaar

In addition to the teens' clothing drive, For The Seventh Generation is preparing for its annual Holiday Bazaar for foster children on Tuesday, Dec. 17.  

During this event, which is not open to the public, foster children who are 12 years or younger, are invited to “shop” free for a present for their foster parents or siblings while foster care workers select items for the children. The event includes holiday-themed crafts, refreshments, and volunteers on hand to wrap the selected gifts.

“We're looking for new toys, electronics, board games – any and everything you can imagine that would make a child smile on Christmas morning,” Roseman said. “Our hope is to make this holiday a joyous one for many foster children and their families.”

More than 70 foster children, families, and foster care workers attended the 2012 Bazaar.

How to Help

Those wishing to make a donation of teens' clothing or of any items for the Holiday Bazaar are invited to contact Roseman at helpcloset@detroitlawyer.org. To make a monetary donation for the purchase of either clothing for teens in foster care or for items for the annual Holiday Bazaar, visit the organization's website at fortheseventhgeneration.org. Volunteers are also needed. Email Roseman for details.

For more ways to help, look at For The Seventh Generation’s “wish list.”