SEQUIM — Lori Brothers is determined to make April 15 a bright day for local foster families.
That’s Thursday, tax day of course — but also Spring Fling day, when gifts are showered on children who have had to move into foster care.
The Spring Fling party is thrown every year by the North Olympic Foster Parents Association, of which Brothers is president.
The association’s parents are enjoying a variety of donations from local businesses and clubs, and Brothers said they’re using them to beef up their “care closets” in Sequim and Port Angeles.
Last Thursday, Sound Community Bank in Sequim presented a $500 grant from its Sound Community Foundation to the foster parents’ group.
This money will go into buying the new clothes that fill the care closets, Brothers said, and it will help with Spring Fling expenses.
The fling, a celebration for foster parents and kids across Clallam County, features prizes, food and presents for the youngsters, who range from babies to toddlers to teenagers.
“I love to see the expressions on the kids’ faces when they get to pick out new clothes,” Brothers said.
In recent years the foster parents’ association has used donations to buy all kinds of necessities: diapers, pajamas, jeans for teens.
In addition to Sound Community Bank — whose CEO is Laurie Stewart, a Sequim High School alumna — other local organizations are supporting children in foster care.
Donations from others
Brothers said the Kiwanis Club of Sequim has provided bicycles for foster kids, First Federal recently gave $2,000 and OlyPen has donated refurbished computers.
“We started a donation program last August, to help people out and help the environment,” by diverting used computers from the waste stream, said OlyPen sales manager Chris Lelle.
He said the company has given more than 100 refurbished computers — donated by members of the public — to local nonprofits.
Foster parents need such assistance, since although they receive a stipend from the state for basic expenses such as food, many find they have little left to buy things like new clothes and school supplies, Clallam County foster-home licenser Martha Hastings has said.
Donations of new and very slightly used items are always welcome, Brothers said, adding that there are about 180 children in foster care on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Brothers praised the community members who have shared their resources with the foster parents’ association.
“I just want to thank them all,” she said.
“They have been a real blessing for our families.”
To make a donation of money or new clothing, diapers, school supplies or other gifts for foster families, phone Brothers at 360-460-3496.
Clallam and Jefferson county residents who want to learn more about foster parenting can phone recruitment and retention coordinator Colleen Robinson at 360-460-5560.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
