With every Melissa McKinnon Print you purchase, a child in foster care receives a gift of art supplies. This gift of art unleashes their natural creativity and provides a joyful, positive outlet for them to express themselves.

The gift of art supplies has many benefits for children and youth in foster care:

– It lets them know someone cares.
– It provides a sense of security and ownership of something that belongs only to them.
– It enables a positive outlet to express themselves and work through trauma.
– It unleashes their natural creativity and helps instill a lifelong love of learning.

I created Prints With Purpose as a special opportunity to use my art as a catalyst to make a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable children, youth and families. That’s why a portion of all proceeds from my print sales go directly to charity, giving every print a special purpose. 

As a foster parent, I’ve witnessed firsthand the emotional, physical, and psychological challenges that a child in foster care faces on a daily – and often lifelong – basis.

When a child enters foster care they often have little more than the clothing on their back. They have no special possessions of their own, and little dignity as they shuffle from family to family, home to home. Because foster children often enter new homes several times during their time in the system, everything they own travels with them in trash bags, which can be a damaging narrative to a child struggling with their own self-worth and lacking a sense of security.

That’s why I’ve partnered with McMan, a local non-profit organization who create Comfort Kits – suitcases filled with age-appropriate items that a child would need and want while in care. Each child entering foster care is provided with a suitcase and a backpack of their own to keep their possessions safe and together. Babies receive soft blankets and diapers, while older children get hygiene items, a book to read and a stuffed toy to cuddle. These Comfort Kits give children a sense of ownership, comfort, and security.  

For children or youth coping with instability, family breakdown and separation from parents and possibly siblings, these items and the proper bags to store and transport them, provide a sense of security and normalcy during a difficult time. Comfort kits provide reassurance during what can be a difficult and scary time full of unknowns. These basic items have a big impact in helping ease a child’s transition into foster care, until a safe and healthy permanency plan is identified. 

I’m on a mission to improve the quality of life for kids in foster care and I’d love for you to join me.

With your help, our contribution will provide age appropriate art supplies like, colouring books, crayons, finger paints, coloured pencils, and sketchbooks giving children in foster care a joyful, healthy, positive outlet to express themselves.

With your purchase of a Melissa McKinnon Prints With Purpose, you’ll help me bring my own story full circle, and give children in the foster system a new story to tell about themselves.