SRU’s Student Nonprofit Alliance supports foster children with ‘Hug the Kids’
Donated personal and school supplies are being collected for foster children as part of the Slippery Rock University Student Nonprofit Alliance’s “Hug the Kids” campaign.
March 24, 2021
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — When children are thrust into the foster care system, it is often a confusing and scary time as they are left to wonder what happens next. In order to help support children during this transition time, Slippery Rock University's Student Nonprofit Alliance is hosting a "Hug the Kids" campaign to collect care package items, now through April 2.
Care packages will be distributed to local nonprofits including the Butler County Alliance for Children and the Bethany Ministries, a Christian outreach organization.
Hug the Kids is the second part of SNA's spring semester Volunteer Crawl, that is traditionally a 24-hour service day where participants travel throughout Butler County to participate in multiple service projects.
Due to COVID-19, the SNA, a pre-professional association for students considering a career in the nonprofit sector, has transformed the service day into three service projects that will take place during the course of the semester.
Hug the Kid's focus on generating supplies for children entering the foster care system is in response to children not having enough time to pack any belongings when removed from dangerous situations before being placed in emergency care.
"When they're removed from a bad family situation, they are often scared and confused, especially in rare instances of emergency care taking them out of the city or county they've grown up in," said Barbara Rugh, a senior social work major from Butler and the marketing and public relations officer for SNA. "SRU Care Packages will provide children with the items they'll need for their personal hygiene, school and for a bit of enjoyment during an incredibly stressful time."
Those wishing to make donations are asked to supply items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, travel size shampoos and lotions, coloring books, notebooks, crayons, pens and pencils, socks, and stuffed animals no taller than six inches. Collected items will be packaged in a nylon drawstring bag imprinted with the words "SRU Believes in YOU."
Donations can be dropped off at designated bins located in the lobby of Spotts World Culture Building or Room 205. Donors also have the option to order items through designated registries via Amazon, Target and Walmart. Purchased products can then be mailed to SNA, c/o Slippery Rock University, Spotts World Culture Building, 110 Central Loop, Room 200, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.
Monetary donations can be made through the Slippery Rock University Foundation, Inc.
"We're hoping to give back to the children of Butler County by showing them that they haven't been forgotten about or alone," said Rugh.
For additional information about Hugs the Kids or the Volunteer Crawl, email srusna.contact@gmail.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lesa Bressanelli | 724.738.2091 | lnb1009@sru.edu