The Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, located at 360 E. Coronado Road, #190, announced the launch of its new Back-to-School Donation Drive. The initiative helps fund the purchase of school supplies for local foster care youth and their families. With a minor donation, supporters can brighten the often-difficult back-to-school experience for these youth.

“Being a foster child comes with extraordinary challenges and sometimes it’s the little things that really help make their day easier,” says AFFCF Executive Director Luis de la Cruz , a non-profit organization dedicated to giving foster children the opportunity for “normal” childhoods and prepare them for successful adulthoods through programming and scholarships. “With the Back to School Donation Drive, qualifying foster youth will receive funds so they can pick out their very own backpack, their choice of folders, their type of colored pencils, crayons and other supplies they need — and most importantly want — for their best back-to-school experience.”

The goal of this drive is to help foster youth feel like “just every other kid” when they head back to class this school year. For so many children in need who receive donations on a regular basis, having the seemingly little choice to pick out their very own backpack and supplies for school means so much.

Through a donation, supporters can help make this possible for foster youth throughout Arizona. Donations begin at $50, which buys a backpack and school supplies for one child and goes up to $300, which affords a backpack and school supplies for four children. Supporters are welcome to make a donation in any amount at any time as the AFFCF relies heavily on this generosity to help give foster youth a more normal life all year round through various programs that contribute to a well-rounded childhood experience.

The AFFCF is a Qualifying Foster Care Organization (QFCO ID #10023), which means donations are eligible for the Foster Care Tax Credit. Individuals can give up to $500 and joint filers up to $1,000 and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their Arizona state taxes.

For more information or to make a donation, visit affcf.org/school.