FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Samuel MacIntyre
Marketing & Communications Administrative Specialist
Advocates for Children
770-382-6180
sam@advochild.org
https://advochild.org/back2school/
Forgotten Before the Bell Rings:
Advocates for Children Launches Back-to-School initiative for Foster Youth
Cartersville, GA – 7/9/2025 — While many families are preparing for a new school year with excitement and anticipation, foster youth across Northwest Georgia face the start of school with uncertainty, limited resources, and the fear of standing out for the wrong reasons.
To meet this need, Advocates for Children is calling on community members across its 11-county service area to help ensure foster children and youth don’t get left behind before the first bell rings. The organization is collecting backpacks, school supplies, new clothing, shoes, and financial gifts to support youth in foster care—particularly the teens and young adults living at Newman House, its emergency and transitional home for ages 7 to 21.
“Donating isn’t just about school supplies,” said Rachel Castillo, President and CEO of Advocates for Children. “It’s about giving youth the confidence to walk into school prepared, proud, and believing in themselves.”
The cost of back-to-school shopping is expected to exceed $600 per child this year, placing an additional strain on families and organizations serving youth in crisis. Advocates serves over 15,000 children and families annually, with many arriving in care with only the clothes on their backs.
To make it easy to give, the nonprofit offers multiple options:
- Amazon Wish List for school supplies and other needs
- Gift cards that empower teens to choose their own clothing
- Monetary gifts to meet the specific and urgent needs of children year-round
Every donation fosters dignity, self-reliance, and hope for a brighter school year. From first graders to high school seniors, children across Advocates’ programs count on their community to show up and help them start the year strong.
To get involved, visit https://advochild.org/back-to-school/ or follow Advocates for Children on social media for wish list links, drop-off locations, and updates.
About Advocates for Children
A nonprofit serving 11 NW GA counties with locations in Cartersville, Marietta and Calhoun. Programs aid and prevent childhood abuse and neglect, help children dealing with death and divorce, support teenagers with behavior issues, provide assistance for teens, runaways and young adults facing homelessness, offer childcare education for new parents, and resources for families struggling in poverty. Population growth and economic challenges continue to increase the needs in our communities. Advocates for Children provides its services with the support of individual donors, corporate support, churches, civic organizations, government and private grants and hundreds of volunteers.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE