Six high school students who are graduating this spring get help from Project CARE

One of the graduating students opens packages

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 their future because they will "age out" of Iowa's foster care system.

That could mean that the grads are on their own when it comes to moving into a college dorm room or setting up their own apartment.  But Decorah's "Project Care" is working to make sure that doesn't happen.

The organization collects donations and then buys the graduates many basic living essentials, like towels, sheets, and kitchen plates.

First Lutheran Church held a reception Tuesday evening for six foster care students graduating this month.  The Project Care graduation party featured six tables stacked with presents and covered with sheets.  At the designated time, the soon-to-be graduates lifted the sheets and oohed and aahed over the gifts.

Organizers of the project say the gifts are not only useful for the upcoming graduates, they're a sign that the community supports the graduates and wants to help them.

First there must be a potluck!!

Project CARE co-coordinator Kirsten Heine introduces the program

PIles of presents await

The gifts were a big hit