June 28, 2016 10:28 am
Life 
Tori Watrous of Camas coordinated the graduation basket efforts through the MOMS Club of Camas/Washougal and Soroptimist International.
Kids who leave the foster care system often have little beyond their clothing. Here, a young woman poses with her certificate and "graduation basket," filled with toiletries and personal items. (Contributed photo)
Watrous got involved in an effort to collect household supplies for kids graduating from the foster care system in Clark County. "When the kids graduate from the program at age 18, they often move out of a foster home with very few personal items." (Danielle Frost/Post-Record)
Local nonprofit organizations Soroptimists International, the MOMS Club of Camas/Washougal and Grace Foursquare Church collected toiletries and other items to give to foster kids.
The graduation party for foster youth also included cake, certificates and treats, in addition to the baskets filled with toiletries and items to get started in an apartment. (Contributed photo)
Graduation baskets are filled with towels, dishes, silverware, can openers, tool kits, wall clocks, pillowcases, cookware, laundry soap, scented candles, dry foods and cans of soup. (Contributed photo)
When most kids move out of their family home for the first time, parents are there to provide guidance and items needed for their first residence.
But kids who leave the foster care system after high school graduation often have a very different experience. They often have very few personal items with which to begin the second phase of their lives.
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