Help put hope in their hands
Adventure Packs:
Carefully curated Adventure Packs are designed to spark imagination and creativity, while promoting math, literacy, creativity, and science activities. Distribution occurs twice a year, early December, and March.
Incorporate specific toy requirements that exists under thoughtfully chose toys and activities now.
Benificiaries:
The Andrew Effect partners with area foster care agencies, transitional housing providers and school districts to identify children in need
In Pennsylvania, there are currently over 15,000 children in foster care placement.
Around 17% of all children in Pennsylvania live below the poverty level.
Additional 27% of children in Pennsylvania live in households above the poverty level but less than what it costs to live and work in the current economy.
Reading Matters:
Literacy is step one to self-confidence and self-sufficiency. Summer reading loss is cumulative. By middle school, a child can lose up to two reading levels. To promote reading, the Andrew Effects distribute summer reading bags to area children. Each child receives five age-appropriate books to build their home library and encourage summer reading. Distribution occurs in June of each year.
Bundle up with a Book: A subprogram of reading matters. Handmade quilts are delivered to children in foster care with a bundle of books. This is delivered on an as needed basis.
Our Impact
The Andrew Effect relies on its partners to provide feedback on the impact of our programs. Our goals are that children experience the joy of opening something designed just for them, and that it increases their self-esteem and heightens their desire to learn. Armed with learning activities that children can use outside of the classroom, children may continue to explore their world, master new skills, and develop new passions. As adults, we can all look back and recall a special gift that enriched our childhood and fueled our life’s passions.
A recent referral allowed us to help three children, all living with their grandmother. We hand-picked gifts to match the children’s interests. For one budding scientist, the gift was a science kit and microscope. The family is facing grief and financial hardships, as both parents are deceased. The grandmother was grateful, as she juggles her life with three young kids and a job training program so she can improve their future as a family. With our partners, The Andrew Effect is proud to help children and families who need extra encouragement and some of life’s “extras” that can provide opportunities to learn, bond and form positive memories.