T O O L K I T C O N T E N T S•The Hope Project Toolkit Checklist

•Get Started

•Frequently Asked Questions

DONATION DRIVE TOOLKITOn behalf of all of the foster and adoptive children in the state of Connecticut, CAFAP would like to thank you for selecting our organization and mission to make a difference. To ensure success of your efforts, we have provided a toolkit that contains all of the materials you will need to complete a CAFAP supply drive or community service project. Please contact us at 860.258.3400 or e-mail kareemah.muhammad@cafap.com for more information.

M AT E RI A L S:AwarenessHandouts

8.5X11Drive Poster

TrackingForm

Presentation / Speech Template

PressRelease / E-mail Template

GET STARTED!Hosting a drive is an excellent way to meet needs and spreadawareness. Below are ways you can get involved.

HOSTING A DONATION DRIVECAFAP serves close to 5,000 foster and adoptive children in Connecticut annually. One of our important ways to support is in the way of donations of all types-clothing, household goods, toys and more.

What items can we use? We recommend the following items for donation drives:Infants& Toddlers:Formula / DiapersChildren:Books New Toys / Pajamas / Coats, Hats, and GlovesTeens: Hygiene Products (soap, deodorant, shampoo , toothpaste, toothbrush, etc..)

HOSTING AN AVENUE OF DREAMS PROM GOWN DRIVEEvery March, CAFAP hosts a prom giveaway and makeover event for foster and adoptive teens throughout the state. We collect prom gowns and accessories (shoes, purses, jewelry, etc..) throughout the year up until the end of February.

HOSTING A CASUAL DAY AT WORK OR SCHOOLSelect a day or week or one day a week for a month; select jeans, or a theme such as sports team fan attire and ask everyone to dress in exchange for a donation to the cause. Call for more details and specific materials.

HOW DO I START?STEP 1 Choose an item (or items) in which to focus your drive.

We have found that choosing one or two items works best.

STEP 2 Decide the length of your drive. It can go a week, a month or a season. It can even be ongoing.

STEP 3 Get permission from your company or church to place a collection receptacle in a spot that is accessible to everyone. We recommend bins or boxes with prominent signage. If you need help with obtaining bins, please let us know so that we can assist.

STEP 4 Advertise! Place an article in your newsletter (see sample), local newspaper, post your drive on facebook, and send out e-mail blasts. Create signs (see sample). Don’t forget to put signs on your donation receptacle! Tell people what donations you are seeking and who the donations will be helping by using the awareness materials.

STEP 5 Decide on a schedule for donation delivery. Please contact us and we will arrange for delivery or pick-up based on your request.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQCan CAFAP send a speaker to my group?Yes, we have many representatives within our agency who are knowledgeable and experienced at providing information about our mission and how you can help. Please call 860.258.3400 or e-mail kareemah.muhammad@cafap.com to schedule a presenter.

When can I drop off the donation?We are available Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am-5pm in our Rocky Hill office for drop-off. If you would like to arrange for a prick-up, please call and we can schedule a convenient time.

What if My Donors want to give Cash?Cash donations are always helpful and support our Children’s Hope Fund. Donors can contribute to the purpose of your drive by requesting that their monetary donation be used to purchase specific items. Our website will also allow individuals to make an online donation via PayPal.

Can the Donors to my drive get receipts?Our agency can provide receipts only to the direct recipient for donations we have received in person. If one of the potential donors to your drive seeks a receipt, they may donate directly to us or use the “Donation Tracking Form”.They can reach us by mail at CAFAP, 2189 Silas Deane Hwy, Ste 2, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or call 860.258.3400 and speak to Kareemah to arrange for a delivery/pickup.

Any additional questions about arranging a drive can beaddressed by calling us at 860.258.3400 or emailing Kareemah.Muhammad@cafap.com

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR SUCCESSUse the following tips& tricksto ensure success

·Set up a match challenge amongstdifferent groups or individual members

·Send a message from the top

·Try encouraging online donations

·Give people a real reason to care

·Complete the circle of giving

·Give your donors a free lunch (oranother great incentive). Offering a freelunch, or other incentive, will definitelymotivated people to donate!”

·Become a CAFAP Facebook Fan

Share you great ideas!

Get started•Take care of your tasks, then follow up and support your team.•Use the resources in the About Us section of our website,par-ticularly the Awareness materials.

•Take advantage of free websites such as evite.com to promoteyour activities and invite peopleto your event.

•Share what you are doing on your social networks or blog,andping CAFAP on Twitter,Facebook and MySpace to let us knowabout your event so we can help you promote it.

Send your contributions to CAFAP•Bring your donation and “Donation Tracking Form” to 2189Silas Deane Hwy.,Suite 2,Rocky Hill, CT 06067. CAFAP isconveniently located offof route 91.

•Or arrange for pick up or drop offby calling 860.258.3400.

Share your success•Thank your donors, volunteers and sponsors. .•Share your success on Twitter,Facebook,MySpace or your blog.

TOOL KIT CHECKLIST

Set your fundraisinggoal•How many hopes will you make come true? ____________

Gather your team•Get your friends and family involved. As a team, identify talents and skills that can help yourfundraising efforts.

Create a plan•With your team,set a date for your drive - then create a detailed list of tasks and a timeline. Identifyhow you will “advertise”your event.Include a budget and list of materials. Assign tasks and due dates.

•Will you collect all donations online?

We can help!•Are you planning something other than a supply donation drive,such as a Casual Day orFacebook Fundraising event?

•Do you have any additional questions or need assistance?•Call Kareemah for support at 860.258.3400.

TEMPLATESUse these templates to create custom presentations,press releases and e-mails.

{ SAMPLE OUTREACH SPEECH/PRESENTATION }

Good morning/afternoon/evening.I am __________________(your name),and I am a member of __________________.I am here to talkto you about how you can make a difference in the lives of foster and adoptive youth throughout Connecticut.

I have started a donation drive (or community service project) to help collect __________________for foster and adoptivechildren/teens living here in our community.I am working with CAFAP,a statewide agency that offers support tofoster, adoptive and kinship care families.

CAFAP believes that all children deserve not only their basic needs to be met,but to have a chance at a brightfuture.Since 1995,they have offered support,training and advocacy to licensed foster, adoptive and kinship carefamilies. They have provided foster and adoptive youth the opportunity to pursue their dreams through theirChildren's Hope Fund. They serve about 5,000 families and youth each year,and there are still many childrenthat need a loving home.

You can help CAFAP by bringing in new or gently used __________________.We are collecting them now through__________________.The donations will go directly to help children in need.

Thank you for attention, and for helping with this important cause in our community.

Prom Gowns Needed

You can help foster and adoptive teens throughout the state.Now through _________________(date),We are collecting prom gowns for CAFAP which will allow teens to have theprom experience that they deserve.Every year CAFAP hosts an Avenue of DreamsProm Giveaway and Makeover event where foster and adoptive teens come and selecta free gown and are treated like a princess for a day.

Your donations will help CAFAP to meet their mission and allow wishes and dreams tocome true.We are collecting donations of:

New or barely worn formal dresses and gowns

Prom accessories: dress shoes, jewelry,hand purses,

Bring your donation to the collection boxes located at:_______________________.

Our donation drive coordinator is: _______________________and can be reached at:_______________________.

Baby Items Needed

Every child deserves to begin their life in a loving environment.For many infants andtoddlers, they do not receive this or even their basic needs. You can help these childrenin our community through donations of baby items. CAFAP serves approximately 5,000foster and adoptive youth in Connecticut and they need your support in order meet their mission of supporting foster and adoptive families. Your donations will help fulfillbasic needs.We are are collecting donations of:

Baby Formula /Diapers /Pajamas /New or gently used clothing

Bring your donation to the collection boxes located at:_________________.Our donation drivecoordinator is _________________and can be reached at _________________.

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For more information on CAFAP, please visit www.cafap.com or contact Kareemah at 860.258.3400

DONATION GUIDELINESWe greatly appreciate all donations we receive. In order to ensure that our efforts are organized and we provide the girls with a beautiful dress for prom, we have developed some guidelines for donations:1. All dresses MUST be dry-cleaned and on hangers2. All dresses MUST be formal, semi-formal, evening or

fancy dresses3. Accessories must be clean, in good condition, and

stylish

We can not accept the following:• Garments that are not clean & in need

of repair• open makeup items• casual or dated dresses• wedding dresses• tuxedos or men’s clothing

For more information e-mailkareemah.muhammad@cafap.com or

contact her at 860.258.3400

is collecting now through:

Every year CAFAP looks to the community to help us make the Dress Giveaway event a success. because of your support CAFAP has been able to offer hundreds of foster and adoptive teens a free prom gown and the prom experience they deserve. In order to continue doing this we need your support, below is our wishlist, be sure to check out the guidelines which are listed at the very bottom of this page.

We are in need o f the f o l lo wing items:•New or gently used dresses (If you are a bridal boutique or designer we will be more than happy to help you clean out your sample and discontinued dress closet and provide you with a donation receipt)

•New or almost new shoes, jewelry and accessories•Beauty and fashion items for our Swag Bags (each girl who attends the Dress Giveaway will

receive one)

•Plastic, disposable garment bags (dry cleaner type)

•Services - hair and makeup consultations, limo service, alterations etc.•Photography service•Publicity - help us get the word out

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To help foster and adoptive childrenthroughout Connecticut

____________________________________________________is collecting:

(gently used or new)

Now through __________________________

The mission of CAFAP is to provide support to foster and adoptive families throughout the state in order to strengthen for success.

For more information on CAFAP, pleasevisit www.cafap.com orcontact Kareemah at 860.258.3400

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THE HOPE PROJECT

DONATION TRACKING FORM EVENT

,... .

Volunteer Name:____________________________________________ Phone:(______)__________________________

Address:______ ______________ City:________________________________ State:______ Zip:______________

E-mail:_______________________________________________________

School (if applicable): _____________________________

Questions / Concerns: Contact Kareemah at 860-258-3400

- First Name Last Name Address City State Zip Phone Donation

TOTAL DONATIONS:

____________________________________________________

EVENT

Interested in Foster Care or Adoption?

Many children in Connecticut are waiting for someone to open their heart and their home. Please consider fostering or adopting.

How can I becomea Foster orAdoptive Parent? All familiesproviding foster care and pre-adoptive care for children inConnecticut are licensed orapproved according to theregulations of the ConnecticutDepartment of Children andFamilies (DCF). The first step is tocall 888-kid-hero and attend anopen house offered DCF.

Is home ownership a requirement?No. You can rent or own an apartment,single-family house or condominium. Youneed to have a separate bed for each fosterchild and separate rooms for children of theopposite sex ages three years or older.Is there an income requirement?The family must have sufficient income tocover their expenses without the monthlyreimbursement for the care of the fosterchild.Are there age requirements to foster and/oradopt?Yes. You must be at least 21 years old.Can single parents foster or adopt?Yes. Foster care and adoption by singleparents, as well as same sex couples, ispermissible and supported.What does it cost to foster or adopt?There is no fee associated with foster oradoptive care. You may have to purchasethings such as a fire extinguisher or pay foryour doctor visit in order to become licensedto foster or approved as an adoptive family.

Call 1-888-KID-HERO tofind out more.

whyOne foster/adoptive father answers it best: “Kids show you how beautiful life can be.” He goes on to say: “It’s about having a family. When you get these kids in your house, you can’t help but fall in love.”

Parents who adopt children and provide foster care say it’s the most fulfilling and important thing they’ve ever done. As a foster or adoptive parent, you’ll havethe chance to make a REAL difference -- to do something that will have lasting importance.

Children waiting to be adopted and childrenliving in temporary foster care need adults intheir lives to let them know they matter. Theyneed parents to be positive role models andteach them to ride a bike, or pick out a promdress, or talk about what happened in schooleach day. They need adults who care.

Call 1-888-KID-HERO tofind out more.We all have love to give!

Fo st e r o r Adopt ?

Children commonly enter foster care, andmay require adoptive families, because ofparental neglect or abandonment. Somechildren enter foster care when no relativesare able to care for the child, a parent dies,or when the family is not equipped to handletheir complicated special needs. Through nofault of the children, a state agency removedthe children from their birth families andassumed temporary responsibility for theirwell-being.

At any given time there are over 4,000children who are in care of the state ofConnecticut. Youth in foster care and thoseavailable for adoption range in age from birthto 18 years of age, and may be part of asibling group or may even be teen parents.Typically, more boys than girls are in fostercare. Children and youth of all communities.What they all share is a need for family. Mostyouth in care are school age, and come froma range of ethnic and racial backgrounds.Many have significant connections to theirbirth families, and those connections must berespected and supported. Some don’t makefriends easily. Some have problems learning,and may have trouble getting along withparents and teachers. But they are all kidsand need the same things all kids need -hope.

How will our support bring hope to Connecticut’s foster and adoptive youth?Unlike many other charitable organizationswho must deduct an administrative fee fromtheir collected donations, CAFAP will give100% of the proceeds directly to theChildren’s Hope Fund.

Call 1-888-KID-HERO tofind out more.

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