The Blue Ribbon Project's Backpacks of Love program provides backpacks directly to children entering care. Each backpack is age and gender specific and contains 24-48 hours of NEW essential and comfort items. The backpacks are delivered to youth as soon as they enter foster care (ideally within a couple of hours). Below, you will find a list of each age and gender and what is included in a backpack for that child.

If you or your organization are building backpacks to donate, we have a huge favor to ask of you. Please print the packing list for the backpack you choose. Then, use that page to check off items you are placing in the backpack. Leave that printed page inside the backpack. We will check that list to see any missing items and add them.

A few tips:

• Every little contribution helps children and youth entering foster care. If you want to fill an entire backpack for an age group, that would be wonderful. If you just want to donate clothes or toys, that's still very helpful. Do not feel obligated to purchase everything on the list if that's outside of your budget.
• These backpacks are designed for the first 24 to 48 hours in care. For toiletries, you can use either travel-size or full-size bags.
• Children's development can vary, especially when it comes to abused or neglected children. For instance, a child may use a pacifier much later than your child did.
• Kids come in all shapes and sizes, which makes purchasing clothing tricky. Please make sure pants have elastic waists and can stretch. 
• If you are packing your backpack, you do not have to include everything on this list. It is essential to get these items to children; however, we do not want you to break the budget. This is why we ask that you print and include the checklist so our staff knows what needs to be added to your backpack.
• Please ensure all items in the backpack are NEW, ideally with tags still attached.  We want the kids receiving these bags to know that everything in them is new.