As we celebrate school graduations this Spring, foster youth in Middle Tennessee will enter independent adulthood without the family support that so many of us experienced as Duke students.

Duke Nashville will support young people in foster care by donating items such shampoo, toothbrushes, bottled water, notebooks, and blankets, for youth exiting foster care as well as children entering foster care. We’ll assemble donations into easy-to-carry bags, which Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee, will give to young people around graduation time in June.

This is a flexible, child-friendly volunteer opportunity. We encourage Duke alumni, parents, family, students and friends to donate items (list below) and/or join us from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, to create the kits. Register below to receive details.

The project is part of Sanford Serves, a community service initiative of the Sanford School of Public Policy to celebrate Duke’s Centennial. The Centennial marks 100 years since Trinity College became Duke University and began its remarkable trajectory in higher education. Sanford Serves focuses on former Duke President Terry Sanford’s commitment to inspire civic engagement and plant the seeds of change.

Many thanks to Lyndsay Wilkinson, Luke Wilkinson A.B.'06, and Eva Wilkinson Johnson A.B.'03 for connecting Duke Nashville with Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee.