Scout develops kits for foster children as Eagle project

MAT-SU — Mika Hoage has used his firsthand experience with Alaska foster children as a springboard for his Eagle Scout project.

Hoage, a member of Boy Scout Troop 300, has had foster children in his family since 2011.

“I have seen that these children come with little or nothing to their new home,” he said. “I wanted to give them something to definitely call their own, as well as give them the basic essentials until their foster families can purchase more items.”

To that end he assembled 64 backpacks filled with coloring books and crayons, journals and pencils, sippy cups and various sizes of clothing ranging from infant to teenager. Backpacks were sorted by age and the sex of the child.

He said he thinks the kits will benefit the children who receive them, their caseworkers and their new foster families.

Hoage worked on the project in conjunction with The Children’s Place and Alaska Center for Resource Families.

The kits are stored at the Office of Children’s Services and will be given to children who enter foster care.

For more information or to help develop a project like this, contact Alaska Center for Resource Families at 376-4678.