Royal Crest Has Backpack Project Collection

Join Aimco/Royal Crest Estates as we participate in our Second Annual Pieces of Home Backpack Project Charity Drive. We are collecting items for children that have been removed from an emergency situation and are being placed the first phase of foster care.

Very often these children have nothing but the clothes that they are wearing. The Backpack Project was implemented at the Boston Medical Center and provides children from ages 0-18 who are discharged to the care of DCF with a stuffed backpack. The backpack provides displaced children with a sense of ownership and brings a small amount of normalcy to an unfamiliar and scary situation.

As you are out doing your Holiday shopping this season, please consider picking up something that you would like to donate to one of these children in need.

Wishlist Items Include:

Infant (Up to 12 months) - Onesies/pajamas (non gender specific clothing is best), receiving blankets, soft stuffed animals, teething toys/rattles, bibs/pacifiers, small musical crib toys, small hand sized board books  (Good Night Moon, Sandra Boynton Books).

Toddlers (13-24 months) - Footed pajamas/fun pajamas, socks, cuddly blankets, stuffed animals, board books, chunky small toys (Elmo, Curious George, Dora).

Pre School Age Children (2-5 years) - Pajamas/nightgowns, underwear/socks, blankets, stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, books, small toys (Dora, Diego, Blue's Clues, Thomas).

School Aged Children (5-10 years) - Coloring books, activity books, crayons, markers and small craft projects, chapter books, Barbie Dolls and action figures (Hulk, Transformers, Legos, SpiderMan), socks and underwear, pajamas or sweat clothes for sleeping, blankets and stuffed animals (Beanie Babies), Hannah Montana, High School Musical, SpongeBob, American Girl.

Pre-Teens (10-13 years) - Activity books (Crosswords, Sudoku, Word Searches), markers, colored pencils, notebooks, drawing pads, UNO cards, playing cards, travel size board games and handheld games, model kits (planes, cars), books (Harry Potter, Twilight, Sports Themes), hair bands, head bands, lip gloss, Chapstick, moisturizer, nail polish, hoodies, sweat pants, pajama pants, t shirts, socks and underwear, blankets, small stuffed animals.

Teens (13-18 years) - UNO Cards, normal cards, travel size board games and handheld games, spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators, magazines, books, hair bands, head bands, lip gloss, Chapstick, moisturizer, nail polish, brushes, combs, hoodies, sweat pants, pajama pants, T shirts, socks and Underwear, blankets, small stuffed animals.

All items (new items only please) can be dropped off at:

Royal Crest Leasing/Management Office, 50 Royal Crest, Drive North Andover, MA 01845.

We will be making our donation during the week of Dec. 17, so please bring your donations to the Management Office by 4 p.m. on Sunday, 12/16/12.

For more information, please call the Royal Crest Management Office at (978) 682-7200, email 042651@aimco.com, or visit www.piecesofhome.org.