Birthday Baskets

Hillsdale, MI, 23 January 2023: The Hillsdale County YOUTH Advisory Council chose children in foster care as one of this year’s awareness projects. On Sunday, January 22nd, members of the YAC created 94 birthday baskets for Hillsdale County children currently in the foster care system.

The birthday baskets contain items needed to celebrate a birthday. In addition to a cake mix and frosting, each basket included candles, balloons, streamers, plates, and napkins. Members of the YOUTH Council also created birthday cards for the children. The YOUTH’s goals were to spread awareness about children in our foster care system and to make sure every child in the Hillsdale County foster care system knows that they are seen and appreciated on their special day.  The birthday baskets were turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services where they will be distributed to foster families in our area.

If you would like more information about becoming a foster parent in Hillsdale County, please call the Department of Health and Human Services at 517.439.2200.  If you would like more information about becoming an advocate for a Hillsdale County child, please contact Hillsdale County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) at 517.425.4145.

The Hillsdale County Community Foundation YOUTH was established in October of 1991.  The YOUTH Advisory Council has an ongoing program for studying the assets, needs, and concerns of the young people of Hillsdale County.  YOUTH has a special endowment fund, initially made possible by a challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to make available grant dollars to benefit and involve young people in Hillsdale County. The current YOUTH Council has 25 members including: Camden-Frontier, Sam Brown and Tydann Cooney; Hillsdale Academy, Riley Coupland, Keturah Neukom, and Caroline Roberts; Hillsdale, Kate Nolan and Keegan Oxley; Homeschool, Eve Goodlife; Jonesville, Hallie James, Maria Mandrelle, Abigail Nevins, Damion Scharer and Emily Toner; Litchfield, Eliza Alvarez; North Adams-Jerome, Carly Beach and Cheyanne Welch; Pittsford, Ava Mallar and Riley McCumber; Reading, Ava Potter and Luke Potter; Waldron, Jena Fellabaum and Emma Wines; and Will Carleton Academy, Clemmie Gadwood, Jack Thielen and James VanCamp.  Anyone wishing further information regarding the YOUTH may call the Foundation office at (517) 439-5101 or visit www.abouthccf.org.

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