Get Involved - Quick Ways to Help
It only takes a small step to make the difference of a lifetime to a foster youth or former foster youth. Did you know that… a donation of money or a backpack can equip a foster youth for an entire school year? Or that an hour of mentoring can help a foster youth succeed for years to come? Whether you make a simple donation or grant a foster youth’s wish list, there are many quick ways you can help.
Our community partners across Southern California can help you get started:
A Sense of Home (ASOH)
A Sense of Home is an LA-based nonprofit founded in 2014 that transforms the lives of foster youth who left foster care, by creating their first-ever homes. You can help furnish their space by donating furniture and housewares.
Child Abuse Prevention Center
The Child Abuse Prevention Center serves at-risk children and families in crisis. By donating diapers, linens, baby items and more, you can help families who are struggling to meet the most basic needs for their children.
Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII)
CII today serves more than 24,000 children and their families in Los Angeles’ poorly resourced neighborhoods and communities. By donating gently used and new gear and clothing, you can help improve their everyday lives.
Crittenton Services
Crittenton Services is committed to empowering foster and transitional age youth reach their full potential. You can help some of the most resilient youth in our community live happy, healthy and productive lives by donating, mentoring or volunteering.
First Star
First Star has been partnering with child welfare agencies, universities, and school districts across the US to improve the lives of foster youth through higher education. In 2011, First Star pioneered the first-ever college prep program at UCLA to give Los Angeles’ foster youth better educational opportunities.
Foster Care Counts
Foster Care Counts matches volunteers with foster families who need their support, and raises funds to support organizations across Los Angeles impacting foster youth and families. By donating, you can help fund Guardian Scholars, an on-campus support program for college students from foster care.
Fresh Outfitters
Children's Action Network, Children's Law Center and Jo Kaplan have teamed up to create Fresh Outfitters, a store just for youth aging out of foster care. All of the clothes, shoes and accessories in the store are new and generously donated by manufacturers, retailers and individuals, creating a wonderful array of choices for the youth looking for a new outfit for a job interview, graduation or their first day of college. You can help by donating or volunteering.
Hillsides
Hillsides and its affiliate, Bienvenidos, are dedicated to healing children and young adults, strengthening families and transforming communities through quality comprehensive services and advocacy. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the agency serves 13,000 children and families in Southern California across more than 40 sites, including school-based mental health offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Baldwin Park. Foster care and adoptions services are offered in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Los Angeles LGBT Center
The RISE Program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center works to increase permanency options by decreasing anti-gay bias, anti-transgender bias, and heterosexism by in-field intervention with families and youth, training system of care providers and coaching for partner agencies to better serve LGBTQ+ youth.
National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI)
The NFYI empowers foster youth and their families, by partnering with policymakers in 435 congressional districts across the US to transform child welfare and improve the lives of foster youth. By donating, you can help fund NFYI’s outreach efforts, programs and initiatives.
United Friends of the Children (UFC)
UFC empowers current and former foster youth in Los Angeles on their journey to self-sufficiency through career training, support for internships, housing assistance and more. You can help equip transition age foster youth by donating necessary school supplies, dorm kits and more.
Wayfinder Family Services
Wayfinder Family Services programs serve infants, children or teens are who blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled and their family members. You can help students gain great independence by donating travel bags, stuffed animals, blankets, clothes or school supplies.