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Woodbridge News
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Volunteers Meet to Assemble Backpacks for Foster Children
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July 7, 2005
Press Conference. . . Press Conference. . . Press Conference. . .
WHEN: Friday, July 8, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Woodbridge Fire House #1, 418 School St., Woodbridge
WHO: Mayor Frank G. Pelzman, Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex),
Helen Evans of Stand for Children, app. 30 Volunteers
The successful “Backpack Campaign” for New Jersey foster children comes to Woodbridge this Friday, July 8, Mayor Frank G. Pelzman has announced.
The Backpack Campaign was created in 1998 by Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex) and Stand for Children’s Helen Evans as a psychological boost to children entering the New Jersey foster care system. The children receive backpacks donated by area individuals and businesses that contain notebooks, stuffed animals and personal items. The program is a partnership with Stand for Children, New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) and New Jersey Foster and Adoptive Family Services.
“Even though these children are under state care, the reality is that we all share a responsibility for doing what we can to help them during a critical transition period,” says Mayor Pelzman. “The Backpack Campaign is a small gesture that has a major long-term impact, and Woodbridge is proud to play a role in the donation and distribution effort.”
The Backpack Campaign is also intended to promote awareness within communities about foster children and the services available to children in need. “I am deeply impressed by the good-hearted nature of our citizens,” says Sen. Vitale. “By providing these several hundred backpacks, our community has reached out to children and shown that we care.”
New Jersey currently has nearly 66,000 foster children who receive home supervision and 4,000 children waiting for adoption. In Middlesex County, there are currently nearly 5,000 children receiving home supervision from DYFS and 600 who have been removed from their original homes.
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©2000
MIS Department
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