View a gallery of thank-you notes from the children, photos from corporate partners and pictures from our School Supply Shindig fundraiser.

Going back to school for every family can be a difficult transition after a carefree summer. However, for some of the youth and families in Youth Villages programs, going back to school can be a financial burden filled with stress and anxiety. For the past seven years, the Youth Villages’ Back-to-School Drive has been able to alleviate that stress.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers, the 2016 Back-to-School Drive was a remarkable success. Youth Villages New England was able to distribute backpacks filled with new school supplies to more than 330 children in our neediest families. We could not have done it without your tremendous support.

Youth Villages’ Danielle Pendleton, family intervention specialist, had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact that a backpack can have on a family.

I have been working with this family for a few months and the last four years has been filled with ups and downs. The three children were removed from the home and both parents worked hard to bring them all home. Mom and Dad went through many challenges, made significant progress individually and together, and after three years in foster care, the children returned to their parents’ home in June 2016.

Mom and Dad work diligently to provide for their children. Nevertheless, it was clear that the cost of going back to school for three kids would be a financial strain. All three children returned to the home with little clothing. Getting clothes for two growing boys and a teenage girl can get expensive very quickly, adding to the cost of backpacks and school supplies. However, Youth Villages was able to support this family with the backpacks and clothes through its Back-to-School Drive.

When I brought the backpacks and clothes to the family, the parents began to tear up. Both were overwhelmed by the generosity and they continue to express gratitude. The whole family was so grateful and appreciative, knowing that the children would have incredible backpacks that would last them a long time, and brand new outfits for school. The boys were extremely excited that their backpacks included tissues! Their teen daughter was so happy to open up her bag and see so many personal touches, including a purse fit for a 14-year-old girl.

The family continues to thank me for these items at our weekly sessions, and they were so excited to show me they were using the school supplies when they got home from school!

Thank you to everyone who donated, shopped and took the time to care about this family and the many families across New England this September!

View a photo gallery featuring event photos, volunteer testimonials and thank-you notes from the children and families we serve.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, Youth Villages fulfilled the holiday wishes of more than 430 youth in need from approximately 140 families participating in our New England programs – including 86 adolescent girls living at the Youth Villages – Germaine Lawrence Campus.

Several specialists who work with youth and their families, across Youth Villages programs, shared some heartwarming stories about how the gifts from Holiday Heroes made a difference this holiday season:

This year I was able to refer a family at the last minute to Holiday Heroes because the family was in desperate need of holiday help. Mom had recently obtained a part-time delivery job and she does the best she can with what she has. Mom is balancing work and caring for her three children, all younger than seven. Her oldest is autistic and needs additional care and support, putting an additional strain on Mom.

The Holiday Heroes Elves were able to get all the children what they needed and wanted. All one daughter wanted was a baby doll, which she got, and winter clothes and boots. A second daughter is obsessed with “Frozen,” and she got these adorable boots with Elsa on them, a doll and other “Frozen” items and clothes.

Mom was so happy and thankful when I called her to tell her that we received the gifts and that I would bring them by in time for Christmas.

Thank you to all of the supporters of Holiday Heroes for donating to this amazing program. This family and so many other families are so grateful for the gifts that they received this holiday season!

-Lindsay Beitman, Family Intervention Specialist

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I had the pleasure of dropping off gifts to a family that had recently reached its goals and completed its work with Youth Villages. When the mother laid her eyes on the four bikes, she lit up with joy. This is a woman who I have rarely seen smile and she was grinning like this was the best day of her life.

She said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” over and over again, and helped me bring the bikes into her friend’s house to store until Christmas morning.

This mother struggles as a single mother with four children and, although she works full-time, there never seems to be enough money to buy any extras, let alone Christmas presents.

Mom informed me that this would be the “best Christmas,” and she could not wait until the children saw the bikes and other presents.

Thank you so very much for your generosity. It is people like you that give families hope, joy and happy memories. From the bottom of our hearts, we at Youth Villages thank you very much.

-Sara Chappell, Clinical Supervisor

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A young woman I work with has had a ton of disrupted foster home placements as a child and adult. She told me before that she never felt like she had a home.

We talked about what would make a place a home for her. She said it was be a place where she could put her “stamp” on it – her personality. With the gifts she received from Holiday Heroes, she kept saying “this is what home must feel like” and “I really want to live here for a while.” Now she is reaching out for support when difficulties arise to ensure she can maintain her placement.

Thank you to all of the Holiday Heroes that supported the young adults in YVLifeSet!

-Nicole Schick, YVLifeSet Clinical Supervisor

Melissa Joan Hart plays a board game with boys at Youth Villages’ Bartlett Campus during her Oct. 6 visit. See more photos below.

Melissa Joan Hart, actress famous for her roles in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Clarissa Explains It All” and “Melissa & Joey,” visited Youth Villages’ Bartlett Campus today to meet children receiving help there and give out gifts from her King of Harts boys clothing line. In addition to providing the boys with King of Harts gifts, Hart visited with girls receiving help at Youth Villages’ Girls Center for Intensive Residential Treatment.

“I had a wonderful visit with these amazing kids today,” Hart said. “Family is something very important to me, and I love the work Youth Villages is doing to strengthen families by providing care and love for these children who need it so much.”

A member of Youth Villages’ board of advocates, Hart selected Youth Villages as a charity partner for her King of Harts clothing line and appears in a fundraising television spot for Youth Villages.

“We love Melissa because she really cares for the kids we are helping at Youth Villages,” said Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler. “She has a big heart for kids and families and is a wonderful advocate for our work. The kids were so excited to visit with her today, and we are really grateful for all the ways she helps us.”

Hart and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, have three sons and launched the King of Harts boys clothing line in 2014. After noticing a gap in the marketplace for cool, casual, functional boys clothing, the design duo was inspired to start their own line. King of Harts launched in spring 2015 with the Montauk collection, each season’s styles take their cue from a city where Hart and her family have traveled. The Fall 2015 collection was inspired by Lake Tahoe, where Hart and her family spend much of their vacation time. Highlights for the season include colorful plaid flannels, unique graphic tees and denim in rugged washes. Prices range from $25- $82, and the collection is sold exclusively on www.kingofharts.com. Hart chose Youth Villages as the line’s charitable partner, with proceeds from the collection’s Louie Tee supporting Youth Villages’ programs.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers, Youth Villages 5th Annual Back to School Initiative was a success!

Youth Villages was able to distribute backpacks filled with new school supplies to more than 300 children to our neediest families across New England. We couldn’t have done this without this tremendous support!

Many families were impacted by this initiative and Deborah Gagne, a Youth Villages family intervention specialist, had the opportunity to see this first-hand. Please read about her experience below and also check out a gallery featuring thank-you notes from some of the children and photos from corporate partners and our Backpack Shindig fundraising event.

This was my first time witnessing a family that received backpacks from YV. Mom was not sure where she was going to get the money for school supplies this year, but she was totally thrilled when I arrived, not only with school supplies, but with a new outfit for her children. The elementary-aged girls were all smiles when they saw the backpacks, but when they opened them they actually squealed with delight. Each child pulled out the items one-by-one and examined it excitedly. When they pulled out their clothing they actually danced around. They tried their shoes on immediately and there were “Thank You”’s and smiles all around. Mom was so relieved and the girls were excited to start school. The family was so appreciative and thanks YV — and so do I for letting me experience that family’s happiness for such a generous gesture.

Read about Large’s accomplishments in the Commercial Appeal (subscription required).

Stand tall for America’s most vulnerable children in these fabulous shoes.

The online retailer Milk & Honey Shoes has teamed with five generous celebrities to offer Youth Villages supporters an exciting new way to help children during National Adoption Month in November.

Kristin Chenoweth, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, CariDee English, Ashley Williams and Kayla Farhang have designed shoes for Milk & Honey, an online custom shoe retailer, to benefit the children being helped by Youth Villages. When you purchase a pair of these specially designed shoes, 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Youth Villages. Visit www.milkandhoneyshoes.com and choose your shoes today for an easy and stylish way to help the kids who need it most.

They also make a great holiday gift – for your own wish list or to give to others.

Youth Villages’ celebrity supporters and Milk & Honey chose November for the campaign because it is National Adoption Month. During November, we pay special attention to our country’s thousands of children waiting for forever families – and those especially vulnerable older youth who turn 18 and leave foster care on their own without ever being adopted by a new family.

Youth Villages helps thousands of our country’s most vulnerable children each year by strengthening birth and adoptive families. In addition, Youth Villages’ transitional living program for youth who have aged out of foster care without being adopted is helping thousands of young people become successful adults each year.

Show your support of Youth Villages’ children and the thousands of children in foster care across America. It’s an easy way to “stand tall” for kids who need us.

Celebrity Shoe Designers

Kristin Chenoweth

Kristin Chenoweth is an Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and singer. She starred in the ABC series “Pushing Daisies,” for which she received an Emmy Award, and has been seen on TV in hit shows including “The West Wing” and “Glee.” She has received rave reviews for her performances on Broadway, where she originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked,” and won a Tony for her show-stealing performance in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Kimberly Williams-Paisley first lit up the screen as the radiant young bride in the comedy feature film series “Father of the Bride” and “Father of the Bride II.” Her on-screen credits include memorable roles in “According to Jim,” “How to Eat Fried Worms,” and “Relativity,” as well as playing Matthew McConaughey’s wife in “We Are Marshall.” In addition to her acting work, Williams-Paisley is an accomplished writer and director.

Ashley Williams

Ashley Williams is an actress best known for her appearances as Victoria on “How I Met Your Mother” and her roles in “Snow,” “Montana Sky,” and “Good Morning, Miami.” She recently made her Broadway debut, playing law student Ellen Roark in John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill.”

Caridee English

CariDee English is a fashion model and TV personality who won Cycle 7 of “America’s Next Top Model.” She has appeared on runways around the world and has been featured in numerous magazines, including appearing on the covers of Seventeen, Healthy Living and Cover, among others.

Kayla Farhang

Kayla Farhang is a celebrity stylist and fashion expert who has worked with a number of celebrities, including Brooke Burke, Paula Abdul and Lisa Vanderpump. She has worked on shows like “The X Factor” and “Dancing With The Stars,” as well as the makeover shows “She’s Got the Look” and “How Do I Look?” A weekly contributor and blogger for “Healthy is the New Skinny,” her true passion is to make everyday women feel beautiful.

To learn more about volunteering with Youth Villages, visit youthvillages.org.

AT&T’s Premier Client Group – Southeast Region recently volunteered to spruce up the Inner Harbour Campus, working on a variety of projects including gardening, painting, laying mulch and overall campus beautification.

Georgia board member Dave Albano and more than 20 volunteers came out for AT&T Cares Day and put their commitment to our kids to work. As a result, they left the Douglasville campus with a fresh new look on the playground, in the garden and at the pavilion. The Georgia and Inner Harbour staff thank all of those who joined them and greatly appreciate their labor of love and passion for the work they do with at-risk kids in Georgia.

Learn more about volunteering for Youth Villages at youthvillages.org.

To support the Youth Villages Backpack Heroes program, the Trustmark Bank branches of Jackson, Madison and Ridgeland donated nearly $5,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies to Mississippi children receiving help for emotional and behavioral problems through Youth Villages. The backpacks and school supplies helped children, many of whom live below the poverty line, have a successful start to the new school year. Several Trustmark Bank branch vice presidents gathered with Youth Villages staff at the Youth Villages office in Ridgeland, Friday, Aug. 2, where more than 150 backpacks filled with school supplies, made possible by Trustmark Bank, were ready to be delivered to children and youth in need.

Clinton McDonald (center), a defensive tackle for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and former University of Memphis football player, visited with boys at the Youth Villages Center for Intensive Residential Treatment in Bartlett, Tenn., July 8. The Commercial Appeal | Photo by Yolanda M. James

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Clinton McDonald visited with boys at the Youth Villages Center for Intensive Residential Treatment July 8, playing a game of dodgeball and give them an encouraging pep talk about setting and reaching their goals in life.

“To be honest with you, if you look at some of the communities that the kids come up in, it’s not too much different from where I came from,” said McDonald, who grew up in Jacksonville, Ark. “Coming back here is a big thing today. It’s real big, bigger than any football game, any practice, any workout because you’re not just affecting yourself, you’re affecting other lives.”

McDonald played for the University of Memphis and makes an effort to reach out to kids in the community whenever he returns to the Memphis area. Youth Villages is grateful to Mr. McDonald for being so generous with his time.

Read the full story at The Commercial Appeal.

To learn more about volunteering, visit youthvillages.org.