7 Essentials Children in Foster Care and Crisis Need Most

When a child enters foster care, moves into kinship care or faces instability at home, everyday necessities can suddenly become anything but ordinary.

At Lowcountry Orphan Relief (LOR), we provide Care Kits filled with clothing, shoes, toiletries and other essentials for children experiencing abuse, abandonment, neglect or circumstances that put their stability at risk.

And the needs aren't hypothetical. Our 2026 Care Kit requests show just how often children need the everyday items many of us rarely think twice about.

Here are seven essentials that can make a meaningful difference.

1. Pajamas

There is something comforting about putting on clean pajamas at the end of the day — especially when that day has involved uncertainty and change.

In 2026, nearly 87% of Care Kits requested from LOR included pajamas.

A new pair gives a child something clean, comfortable and entirely their own to wear at the end of a difficult day. It's a simple item that can help bring a little normalcy when life feels anything but normal.

2. Underwear and Socks

They are not exciting. They aren't usually the first things people think about donating. But they are essential.

New underwear and socks provide dignity and basic hygiene, and the need becomes especially significant as children get older.

More than 91% of Care Kits requested for children ages 6–18 included underwear.

Sometimes the most basic items are the ones children need most.

3. Shoes

A new pair of shoes can mean getting through a school day comfortably, participating in an activity or simply having something that fits.

And shoes are one of LOR's biggest ongoing needs. More than 84% of Care Kits requested in 2026 included shoes.

Because children's feet grow quickly and every child needs a different size, keeping our shelves stocked with the right shoes is a constant challenge. Having a variety of sizes ready means our volunteers can pack what a child needs when the request arrives.

4. Hygiene Items

A toothbrush. Shampoo. Deodorant. A hairbrush.

Small things? Maybe. But imagine going through a major change in your life without them.

More than 83% of LOR's 2026 Care Kit requests included toiletries.

Having your own hygiene products can help a child feel clean and prepared for school or wherever the next day takes them. They are everyday essentials that provide a little independence during an uncertain time.

5. Backpacks

For a school-age child, a backpack isn't just somewhere to put pencils and notebooks. It's something useful that belongs to them.

In 2026, more than one-third of all LOR Care Kits included an elementary, middle or high school backpack.

A new backpack helps a child arrive at school prepared while also providing a practical place to keep belongings together. It's one more way we can help a child feel ready for what comes next.

6. Books

Books can provide something different from clothing and toiletries: a chance to escape into another world for a little while.

That's why LOR includes books in each Care Kit. For a younger child, it might become a favorite bedtime story. For an older child or teenager, it can offer a quiet distraction during a difficult transition. Most importantly, the book is theirs to keep.

7. Comfort Items

Not every important need can be measured in clothing sizes.

A stuffed animal can give a child something familiar to hold onto when the people, places and routines around them may be changing.

These items don't replace the stability children need, but they can provide comfort in the moment — and sometimes the little things matter more than we realize.

The Basics Really Do Matter

When you look at thousands of Care Kit requests, a clear picture begins to emerge.

Nearly 87% need pajamas. More than 84% need shoes. More than 83% need toiletries. And among children ages 6–18, more than 91% need underwear.

These aren't extras.

They are the everyday basics children need to get dressed, go to school, take care of themselves and move through their day with dignity.

Our goal is to have those essentials ready before the next request arrives. Because when everything changes for a child, having the basics shouldn't be one more thing they have to worry about.

How You Can Help

You can help us keep our shelves ready for the next child who needs us.

• Donate new clothing, shoes, toiletries and other Care Kit essentials.

• Host a collection drive with your school, workplace, church or community organization.

• Volunteer at LOR and help us sort donations and pack Care Kits.

Every donated item helps us fill another shelf. Every stocked shelf helps us fill another Care Kit.

And every Care Kit gives a child one less thing to worry about when everything else may be changing.