A new mobile boutique will travel throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania to provide free clothing, essentials, and resources to children entering the foster care system.
The Kindness Project will launch The Kindness Express: A Mobile Boutique on Friday, Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m. at The Kindness Exchange Boutique, 4752 Mill Road, Emmaus.
The boutique-on-wheels will deliver free clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, baby equipment, and comfort items to foster families.
“Every child deserves dignity, stability, and the chance to show up confidently in their world,” said Jenae Holtzhafer, founder and executive director. “The Kindness Express allows us to meet them where they’re at – privately and compassionately. When a child is displaced to an unfamiliar home with nothing but a small bag of mismatched items – or sometimes with nothing at all – we show up for them the way every child deserves. Our goal is to ensure to them they are seen, loved, and that they matter.”
The organization plans to schedule “Stuff the Truck” events for businesses, schools, and other organizations to contribute needed items through local donation drives.
Lehigh Valley Health Network Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Jefferson Health, will serve as the premier sponsor for three years.
“We want foster children to have the best chance of reaching their potential,” said Dr. Nathan Hagstrom, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “The Kindness Express brings hope, dignity, and support to the children, and the families opening their hearts and homes to them.”
The Kindness Project is a donation-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit that provides foster and adoptive families with essential items at no cost, including infant equipment, diapers, formula, beds, bedding, clothing, shoes, and hygiene items.