Reno, Nev. Nov. 3, 2021. Chilly weather is here to stay and hundreds of Washoe County’s children in care are in dire need of warmer clothing right away.
In recognition of November as National Adoption Awareness Month, the Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA), Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), KOLO TV, and Target, are hosting the 2021 Children in Care Stuff a Bus Drive-By Donation Drive on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Staff will be collecting new, winter clothes from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., for more than 800 children in care. HSA will distribute the donations to foster and adoptive children at the HSA Family Engagement Center throughout the next several months.
The community is asked to drive by and drop off donations at the RTC bus, in front of the Target in Sparks, which is located near Legends Mall, at 1550 East Lincoln Way. Brand new clothing items needed include: jackets, coats, gloves, socks, blankets sweatpants, boots, beanies, hooded sweatshirts, and gift cards.
“This donation drive goes a long way in providing warm clothing for our most vulnerable children in Washoe County,” said HSA Children’s Division Director Ryan Gustafson. “Children in care have had a difficult start to their lives, but seeing the kiddos smile when we hand them a new coat, gloves or sweatshirt is something special.”
Who: Target, RTC, KOLO TV, KOLO Cares and HSA.
What: Children in Care Stuff A Bus Drive-By Donation Drive.
When: Friday, Nov. 5, from 2 p.m.- 6 p.m.
Where: Target, located at 1550 E Lincoln Way Sparks, NV
Contact: Chris Ciarlo at Cciarlo@washoecounty.us or 775-336-6190.
Lauren Ball, at LBall@RTCWashoe.com or 775-335-1916.
Media: Interviews and b-roll available throughout the day.
As part of National Adoption Awareness Month, HSA is highlighting the Smith family (Pictured in the news release). Here is Julie Smith’s story in her own words:
We have always known we wanted a big family. Growing up, I had been friends with kids who were adopted. We felt a magnetic force urging us to go to an orientation. We knew right away at the orientation that we were in the right place. We continued the classes, and before we knew it, we were meeting our Jay and Ali. I took Malik, our only child at the time, and went to go meet Jay and Ali, and the rest is history!
HSA has always stayed connected with us and invited us to fun community events, like a football game at the University of Nevada. We reached out to one of our friends we had met during the first adoption, and she helped us get our foster license again. We absolutely are head over heels for our four kids. We can’t wait to travel with them after this pandemic settles down. We constantly are telling our friends the blessings that adoption brings to our lives. We have met lifelong friends, while we’ve grown our family through adoption.
To learn more about fostering or adopting, email HSA at haveaheartinfo@washoecounty.gov or head to our new website.
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