Every young adult deserves to start out with support, not struggle.
In Portland, Oregon, a group of SE Portland friends came together to make that possible. With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, they partnered with Every Child Oregon to assemble launch boxes for young adults aging out of foster care. These care packages were designed to make a first apartment feel like home. Each one included essentials like dishes, towels, and toiletries, plus small comforts such as candles, gift cards, and handwritten notes of encouragement from their community. Together, they offered both practical help and a reminder that someone cares.
These launch boxes are part of Every Child Oregon’s broader mission to uplift children and families impacted by foster care. Each year, thousands of youth in Oregon age out of the system without a built-in support network. This project met that moment with tangible compassion, offering a little stability and a lot of heart.
What made the initiative especially powerful was its community spirit. Friends and neighbors pitched in to help fill the boxes, write encouraging notes, and even match some of the grant funds so more youth could benefit. In the end, ten boxes were delivered to Native teens through ODHS and tribal Child Welfare offices. It was a beautiful example of kindness meeting a real, local need.
Jenny Weil, who helped coordinate the effort, was inspired by a personal story. Years ago, during a difficult time in her own young adulthood, she was supported by a friend’s mother who had grown up in foster care herself. The experience left a lasting impression and taught her that even small gestures of care can change a person’s path, especially when life feels uncertain.
That same belief guides this project: that everyone deserves to feel supported, seen, and cared for as they take their next steps into adulthood.
At the TDB Family Foundation, we support projects that create Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency and help Build Thriving Communities. This initiative embodies both. By offering practical support and emotional encouragement, this group of SE Portland friends reminded youth that they are not alone, and that kindness and community can be powerful companions on the journey forward.
We’re proud to support this meaningful act of kindness and can’t wait to see how it inspires others to do the same. Because sometimes, the simplest gestures—like a stocked kitchen or a handwritten note—can help someone feel at home in the world.
➡️ Learn more about Every Child Oregon at everychildoregon.org/pdx
Photo Courtesy of Jenny Weil