TIGARD Ore. (KPTV) - With Love Oregon, a nonprofit organization designed to support foster parents and children in foster care, is teaming up with InRoads Credit Union to provide children with hair kits.
A basic kit includes regular shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries, but they're also offering a kit for children with curly or textured hair.
"We've got a pic and we've got deep conditioner and shampoo," said Venissa Gerberg, executive director of With Love Oregon. "We've got a bonnet for nighttime sleeping."
Nearly 150 kits were dropped off at With Love Oregon on Tuesday afternoon. Gerberg said they want foster families to be intentional about honoring a child's culture and their hair.
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"We really want to make sure that they understand the importance of culture, the significance of their hair, and feeling really proud about their crowns," Gerberg said.
According to Gerberg, these kits have been in high demand. The idea behind them came from a With Love Oregon board member, who Gerberg said is a person of color.
"She was often getting stopped in the store when there were families there who were caring for kids of color," Gerberg said. "They would ask, 'Can you help me out? Can you help me understand how to care for their hair?' She recognized that that was a gap that we could probably step in and help fulfill."
With Love Oregon told FOX 12 it wants to help foster families provide a safe, caring environment for the children in their care. And to Gerberg, this is personal.
"Not only am I an adoptee, but I was a foster parent for 14 years," she said. "I just recognized the huge 'Yes,' that our foster families are saying and I want to help bring whatever support and relief that we can bring them because they are making such a big sacrifice."
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In September alone, Gerberg said With Love Oregon served 151 children. Thanks to community partners like InRoads Credit Union, Gerberg said every single child who requests a hair kit, including the curl kit, will be able to have one.
"We are hitting record numbers of families requesting support so we need all the support we can get from the community," Gerberg said.
With Love Oregon provides all the supplies foster families may need to host a child in their home. From mattresses to clothes, to diapers and comfort items like stuffed animals, books, and toys, With Love Oregon's volunteers are ready to help when needed.
Gerberg said With Love Oregon is accepting new and like-new donations. For more information on how to get involved at With Love Oregon, click here.