Project Care will help high school graduates

For high school seniors who are in foster care, graduation is a mixed blessing.  There is pride in earning a diploma, but there's also concern about there future because they will "age out" of Iowa's foster care system. 

Decorah's "Project Care" is working to help fill the needs of those graduates.  The organization helps these young students furnish their apartments or dorm rooms with all of the basic living essentials, many of which we take for granted, like having towels, sheets, and kitchen plates.

"We strive to help ease a burden for these students as they begin this next chapter in their life, that of independent living," said First Lutheran Church pastor Chad Huebner.  "Try to imagine transitioning into this phase of life with perhaps little support or financial stability...this is an attempt to not only help them, but to let them know that people do care," he continues. 

Project Care also works to raise money to help furnish each graduate with a laptop computer so that they can enter college with every advantage possible. 

The community is invited to attend the Project Care graduation party from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 22nd, at First Lutheran Church in Decorah. This year there are three young people in foster care in the Decorah area who will be graduating. 

"I have never been a part of an effort like Project Care before," said Project Care chairperson Kirsten Heine.  "It will touch your heart...and it truly does make a big difference in the life of a young person," she added.

To learn more about how you can help, contact Kirsten Heine at (563) 735-5358 or contact Jenine Jordahl at First Lutheran Church at (563) 382-2638.