MOSES LAKE — Treehouse, a Washington state nonprofit dedicated to supporting the educational and other essential needs of youth in foster care, is launching its annual back-to-school campaign to collect school supplies and items by the end of summer, according to an announcement from the organization. Treehouse is calling on community members, businesses and organizations to support youth in foster care during the back-to-school season by hosting donation drives and/or organizing fundraisers now. This initiative aims to ensure that every child in foster care has the necessary resources to succeed academically and beyond.

Youth in foster care often face unique challenges that can impact their educational journey, Treehouse wrote in the announcement. They frequently move between homes, which can disrupt their learning and create gaps in their education. 

Treehouse’s programs opened eligibility to all Washington school-aged youth in foster care last year, according to the announcement, resulting in a jump in referrals to Treehouse programs. At the Treehouse Store alone, online orders increased 63% in the second half of 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. Items in the store are expected to go quickly and organizers want to build up a solid range of inventory going into the fall.

How the public can help:

• Host a donation drive: Ensure our resource store stays stocked with essential goods. The Treehouse Store, a free resource store that operates year-round, provides high-quality clothing, school supplies, books, backpacks and more to youth in foster care. Rally your office, book club, soccer league, friends and family to participate. Check out the Back-to-School Toolkit at bit.ly/3zNAkkR for more information.

• Host a peer-to-peer fundraiser: Fundraising efforts help expand the store’s inventory, ship items to youth statewide and continue providing our vital programs. Sharing a fundraiser with your network can also help introduce people to Treehouse and its services. Visit bit.ly/4f1kUtg for more information.

• Order off the wish list: If you are unable to host a donation drive or peer-to-peer fundraiser, you can order off our wish list that contains the Treehouse Store’s most requested items. Visit treehouseforkids.org/wishlist to make your purchase.

Make a financial contribution: Treehouse relies on the generous contributions of our community to make our work possible. Visit treehouseforkids.org/donate to make your donation.