AFFIRMATION BOX PROJECT
Thank you for the amazing outreach from the community. All boxes for this year have currently been allocated. We will reopen for requests once more funding is secured.
At Mission West Virginia, we understand the value that personal belongings hold for a child in foster care. We believe that every child in care should have their own luggage, hygiene items, and belongings that affirm their personal identity, sense of belonging, and culture.
Black youth in foster care often do not receive items that affirm their racial and cultural identity. This includes not only hair and skincare products, but also items that help build positive identity and self-esteem.
Thanks to generous grantors and donors, in 2023 we created Affirmation Boxes designed specifically for Black and Black biracial youth who live with foster, adoptive, and kinship/relative families. These boxes are available to Black and Black biracial youth who are currently in foster care (family or residential), have been adopted, or live with relatives or kinship caregivers.
All boxes feature standard items including:
haircare products, a detangling brush, and skin-tone bandages*
additional items that vary by age, such as dolls, crayons, coloring books, journals, colored pencils, stickers, affirmation cards, and more.
*Haircare products have been selected to work across a variety of hair types and were selected to serve as a starting point. We can also work with youth and their families to find products tailored to their specific needs.
Boxes may be requested by agencies, workers, or individual families.
Pickup & Shipping Information:
Families residing in Putnam County should plan to pick up boxes at our Mission West Virginia office located in Hurricane, WV.
Those within driving distance in surrounding counties may also choose to pick up boxes at our office.
Boxes may be shipped to locations outside of Putnam County.
To request an Affirmation Box, please fill out the form below.
To request an Affirmation Box, please fill out the form below:
Please note that supplies are limited. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
If you are in need of items for a child of a different race, ethnicity or minority demographic, we would be happy to help. You may contact us at rkinder@missionwv.org or 304-562-0723.