Royal Christmas Market 2023

Christmas for Foster Kids!

Who we serve:  every child in foster or kinship care in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties

What we're gifting each foster CHILD registered:  

• new coat ($20-25)
• new winter boots ($25-30)
• new pajamas ($12-20)
• 2 Christmas gifts each, chosen from a selection of options ($10-15 each)

Each registered foster FAMILY will receive:  

• 1 family game, chosen from a selection of options ($10-$25)
  
• 3 crafts for each child in the home, over age 3 ($5/child)
• 1 gingerbread house kit ($5)
• homemade treats for each person in the home (donated by volunteers)
  

Will you join us?

• SPONSOR any of the above item(s). Make a monetary donation today by clicking the "Christmas Market & Donations - View Items" button above. In 2022, we served 51 foster families, including 104 foster children.

From our national office...

Our Mission

The mission of For The Children - Royal Family KIDS is to transform our local community by interrupting cycles of neglect, abuse, and abandonment of children in the foster care system. Too often these children find themselves on paths to academic failure, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, sex trafficking, homelessness, and incarceration. At our summer camps and mentoring programs dedicated to changing the trajectory of these young lives, we strive to plant seeds of hope, happiness, and wholeness. By healing the scars of the past, we hope to come alongside these children and help them blossom into resilient adults with the ability to overcome challenges and be successful and healthy members of our community.

For The Children, started in 1985 in southern California, is now the world's leading network of camps and mentoring programs for abused and neglected children. Today, there are over 200 camps in the US and internationally. Our local chapter's first camp was held in the summer of 2018. Campers ages 7-11 enjoy a week of experiences that many of us take for granted, including camping, swimming, nature walks, biking, hiking, having a birthday party with presents, bounce house and carnival, ziplining, or just having a compassionate person to talk to.

Five days of stimulating and STEAM educational activities in an inspiring environment, away from the stresses of life, are designed to reclaim the child within, who has been exposed to abandonment and abuse. Camp promotes fruitful relationships and positive relational, emotional and spiritual experiences that benefit campers not only during the week, but inspire virtues that last a lifetime. 

We are currently recruiting and fundraising to launch Mentor Club in next school year. Sadly, most foster children miss out on mentoring programs. While organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters serve general populations of at-risk kids, they are not designed primarily for foster children. The RFK model is specifically designed to meet the challenges and needs of pre-teen foster children.

Many children in foster care have been exposed to poor role models. Some may self-identify with those who have made unhealthy and/or criminal choices. At camp, we model and introduce them to wise, healthy, legal choices. They are taught they don't have to be defined by their past. It's especially powerful when a former camper returns to camp as an adult volunteer, serving as a positive example of what is possible when they make wise choices.

By investing in their lives at a young age, we hope to help them avoid becoming another statistic.

Thank you for considering partnering with us in making a difference in the lives of the foster children of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum counties.  We will only be successful in this endeavor because of the generosity of people and businesses like yours.

Hear from campers and their caregivers!

Please visit our website at www.ForTheChildrenCowlitz.org to learn more about our local chapter, ongoing and upcoming fundraising events, as well as sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.