For the Reporter

The first day of school inspires a variety of emotions for children and their families – excitement, anticipation, even nervousness.

This is especially true for the Northwest’s nearly 20,000 foster children who are often entering a new home with a new family and starting at a new school with unfamiliar teachers and peers.

To help ease first-day jitters and to ensure foster kids are set up for a successful school year, Kent-based Sleep Country is hosting its annual School Supply Drive for Foster Kids today through Sept. 6.

“We believe kids should be excited for the start of a new school year as they look forward to learning new things, seeing old friends and making new ones,” said Gina Davis, vice president of branding at Sleep Country. “For many foster children, however, their worries about fitting in and keeping up overtake the excitement of the first day back to school.

“Our community can help make sure foster kids have the tools they need to keep up with their peers in the classroom by making a simple donation of essential school supply items to this drive,” Davis said. “It’s a donation for the first day of school and for their ongoing educational success.”

What do foster children need most? The most frequently requested items from Sleep Country’s nonprofit foster organization partners are backpacks, three-ring binders, packs of pens and pencils, flash drives, multi-subject notebooks, and loose leaf paper.

How can the community give back? Sleep Country will be collecting new school supplies at every store location. Additionally, community members and businesses can host their own drive at work, school, church, or among friends and family, using the needed tools at www.sleepcountryfosterkids.org.

And those who don’t have time to shop can make a donation online and Sleep Country representatives will buy school supplies on their behalf.

All donations will be distributed through Sleep Country’s nonprofit partner organizations in the Northwest.

Use the store locator at www.sleepcountry.com to find your nearest store for dropping off donations.

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You can help

What: Sleep Country’s School Supply Drive for Foster Kids

When: Now through Sunday, Sept. 6

Where: Donations of new school supplies can be dropped off at any Sleep Country store. For more information or to find the nearest location please visit the store locator at www.sleepcountry.com or call 888-887-5337. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cash donations can also be made online and Sleep Country representatives will shop on your behalf.

All contributions are distributed among Sleep Country’s foster care partner organizations. For more information, please visit www.sleepcountryfosterkids.org.