The Boxes of Love Project

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Gresham, OR
The Boxes of Love Project

It is our mission to ensure that babies & children entering foster care from local children's hospitals have a box of new clothing to call their own.

Most of you know that we recently adopted our son after a two year journey through the foster care system. This experience made me realize that I need, and want, to do something to help the babies and children who are currently in foster care. That is where the idea for The Boxes of Love Project came from

Hundreds of babies and children enter the foster care system each day. Most of them enter w

ith nothing to call their own. No clothes, blankets, stuffed animals or books. The thought of this breaks my heart. I want these children to know that they are loved, that they are special and that they matter. I have decided to make it my mission to ensure that every baby and child entering the foster care system at Randall Children's Hospital receives a large box full of new clothing and other items (see list below) to call their own....A Box of Love. Each box is topped off with a copy of the book Guess How Much I Love You and a note from me. Each box is valued at approximately $500, so you can definitely see why I need community support to keep it running! There are number of things you can do. Please consider donating new baby and children's clothing, new shoes, new underwear and socks, toiletries, hair accessories, new fun towels and washcloths, new baby blankets, new stuffed animals, small baby toys/pacifiers/rattles, etc, books, stickers, coloring crayons, coloring books and small toys. You can also donate Sterilite 66 quart clear plastic bins with latching handles, small duffle bags and backpacks. You can donate gift cards to Target, Carter's, Kohl's, Old Navy and Fred Meyer. These gift cards are used to purchase items for the boxes that I may not have on hand. They are also used to purchase specific items that children may need or want. You can also always make a monetary donation! You can find a link to the PayPal account on the page for credit card donations. Checks can be mailed to:

Boxes of Love
PO Box 702
Troutdale, OR 97060

There is also an Amazon Wishlist that has items which can be purchased for the boxes. https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/2AE4S0UGINQ6S/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl

Finally, you can spread the word to your family and friends! The more people that know about, and support, the project, the more children we are able to help!! Thank you for visiting the page and for supporting The Boxes of Love Project!

09/03/2026

Something as simple as a toothbrush can make a big difference. 🪥🫧

Many children enter foster care without basic hygiene essentials of their own. That’s why every Box of Love is thoughtfully packed with the everyday necessities a child needs, including age-appropriate toothbrushes and toothpaste.

From babies getting their first teeth to toddlers, kids, and teens, these items support their health while helping create a familiar daily routine during a time when so much around them may be changing.

And we love making the practical things feel special, too. A toothbrush with a favorite character, color, or design can be one more item a child gets to be excited about and call their very own. 🥹

This month, toothbrushes + toothpaste are our Most Needed Items, and you can help us keep our shelves stocked!

🛒 Shop our Target or Amazon wishlists (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3UO5BUQGJNCM7?ref_=wl_share or https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/boxes-of-love-wishlist)
📬 Mail brand-new donations to: PO Box 702, Troutdale, OR 97060
📍 Drop off donations at any of our local donation sites (listed in our link in bio)

Every toothbrush helps us make sure the next child we serve has the essentials they need from day one.

09/02/2026

A big thank you to Burns Feed Store for helping us make our School Gear Drive even more accessible to our local community! 🎒💛

If you're in the Gresham or Boring area, you can stop by Burns Feed Store to drop off new school gear for children entering foster care. Find the yellow school bus bin inside the store and drop off your donations.

📍 Burns Feed Store
29215 SE Orient Drive
Gresham, OR 97080

We're so grateful to local businesses like Burns Feed Store for helping our community show up for kids when they need it most. 🫶

09/01/2026

Four hours from Portland: 8-year-old twin girls and two Boxes of Love packed just for them. 💛

Our team recently made the trip to Roseburg, Oregon, to deliver boxes to these sisters entering foster care. And because they're school-aged, making sure they have what they need for the classroom is part of making sure they feel cared for beyond their first day in a new home.

A new school year can already bring big feelings. Add in the transition of entering foster care, and having something as simple as a new backpack, lunchbox, shoes, or raincoat ready to go can mean one less thing to worry about.

That's exactly why we're asking for your help with our Back-to-School Gear Drive. We're currently stocking up on:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Rain coats
🥾 Rainboots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

Our boxes travel wherever they're needed, sometimes hundreds of miles from Portland, and we want to be ready for every school-aged child we receive a request for.

🛒 Help us clear our Amazon School Gear Wishlist through the link below. Every item helps us prepare the next Box of Love for a child who needs it.

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share

08/29/2026

This is one of the questions we're asked most often, and the answer surprised even us.

After reviewing every Box of Love request we've fulfilled from 2016 through 2025, we found that nearly 30% of all requests happened during just three months: July, August, and September.

That's during the same time most families are preparing for a new school year.

For many children entering foster care, back-to-school doesn't mean picking out a new backpack with their family. It can mean moving into a new home, meeting new caregivers, starting at a new school, and doing it all with very few belongings of their own.

That's why we're hosting our Back-to-School Gear Drive.

We're working to restock the school essentials that go into our Boxes of Love so children can start the school year feeling prepared, included, and cared for.

We're currently collecting:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Raincoats
🥾 Rainboots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

🛒 The easiest way to help is by shopping our Amazon Wishlist. Every item purchased helps us prepare for our busiest season of serving children entering foster care.

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share

Together, we can make one more transition a little easier. 💛

08/26/2026

🎒 One backpack won't change why a child enters foster care. But it can change how they walk into school. 💛

For many children entering foster care, the start of the school year doesn't come with a shopping trip. It comes with a new home, new caregivers, and often very few belongings of their own.

That's why we're asking our community to help us clear our Amazon Wishlist and restock the school gear we include in our Boxes of Love.

Every item you donate helps a child start the school year with comfort, dignity, confidence, and the reminder that they are deeply loved. We're currently collecting:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Raincoats
🥾 Rain boots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

🛒 Shop our Amazon Wishlist through the link (🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share) and help us prepare for our busiest season of serving children entering foster care.

Together, we can make one more transition a little easier. 💛

08/25/2026

As classrooms fill with students, some children are navigating one of the biggest transitions of their lives. Entering foster care often means starting over, and simple things like a backpack, lunchbox, warm coat, and rain boots can help them walk into school feeling a little more prepared.

That's why our Back-to-School Gear Drive is so important.

We're working to restock our shelves with brand-new:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Raincoats
🥾 Rain boots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

Over the past 11 years, nearly 30% of all Box of Love requests have come during July, August, and September, making this our busiest season of the year. Every item donated helps us be ready when the next child needs us.

🛒 The easiest way to help is by clearing our Amazon wishlist, linked in our bio. You can choose any item, and it'll ship directly to us.

Together, we can help more children across Oregon and Southwest Washington walk into a new school year with comfort, dignity, and confidence.

🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share

08/22/2026

We are so grateful to the Salem Foundation for their generous $1,000 grant in support of children entering foster care in the Salem-Keizer community.

Because of your kindness, more children will receive a Box of Love filled with brand-new clothing, shoes, comfort items, books, and essentials, thoughtfully chosen just for them. During one of the hardest days of their lives, your support helps remind each child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved.

Thank you to the Salem Foundation for investing in our mission and helping us bring comfort, dignity, and love to children when they need it most. We are truly grateful for your partnership. 🫶

08/20/2026

As a new school year begins, many children are picking out backpacks, lunch boxes, and new shoes with their families, but for children entering foster care, this season often looks very different.

Many arrive with little to call their own, while foster parents work quickly to provide everything they need for a brand new school, a brand new home, and a brand new beginning.

You can help make that transition a little gentler by helping us clear our Amazon wishlist and restock the school gear that fills our Boxes of Love.

We're collecting NEW:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Raincoats
🥾 Rain boots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

Every item you donate helps a child walk into school feeling prepared, included, and deeply loved.

🛒 Shop our Amazon wishlist through the link 🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share and help us prepare for our busiest season of serving children entering foster care across Oregon and Southwest Washington. 💛

08/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who donated bikes, scooters, swimsuits, goggles, pool toys, bubbles, balls, and so much more! Your kindness is helping children build confidence, make memories, and simply enjoy being kids during one of the hardest seasons of their lives. 💛

08/17/2026

For the past 12 years, we've tracked every Box of Love request we've received, and one pattern has remained the same.

July, August, and September are consistently our busiest months, accounting for nearly 30% of the 1,500+ Box of Love requests we've fulfilled since the beginning.

As a new school year begins, children continue entering foster care every week. While many families are shopping for the first day of school, foster parents are often welcoming a child with little notice and trying to provide everything they need, from clothing and shoes to the everyday school gear that helps them feel like they belong.

That's why we're hosting our Back-to-School Gear Drive throughout August and September.

We're collecting NEW:
🎒 Backpacks
🥪 Insulated lunch boxes
🍱 Bento boxes
💧 Reusable water bottles
🧥 Winter coats
☔ Raincoats
🥾 Rain boots
👟 Shoes
🧦 Socks

The easiest way to help is by clearing our Amazon wishlist. Every item purchased ships directly to Boxes of Love and helps a child start the school year feeling prepared, cared for, and deeply loved.

🛒 Shop our Amazon wishlist (🔗 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XBQZ7SAKIRZ8?ref_=wl_share)
💸 Make a monetary donation.
📦 Drop off new items you find at your preferred store at one of our donation locations.
🤝 Share this post to help us reach more people across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Together, we can make one of the hardest transitions in a child's life feel just a little bit easier. 💛

Address

117 NE Roberts Avenue
Gresham, OR
97030

Telephone

+15035029044

Website

http://www.boxesofloveproject.org/

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