Community of Fostering: Back to School with the Ruby Room

The Ruby Room is a nonprofit organization providing attire to teens in financial need across the State of Washington, enabling them to participate in high school milestone events. On Sunday, August 19 the Ruby Room hosted a group of middle and high school aged kids who are in the Y foster care program youth. This time, instead of offering formal wear, the Ruby Room helped each kid decide on their personal style and help them pick out clothes that match how they want to look.  

Ellen Young, Ruby Room Founder, said “Going back to school, especially middle and high School, is hard. We just want to help them feel confident on their first day! Being in foster care shouldn’t take that experience away from them.” With the completed style guides the Ruby Room team of volunteers and donors shopped to stock the boutique showroom to the styles and sizes of the participants.  

During their time at the Ruby Room kids were given the opportunity to participate in a free health and wellness workshop which included haircuts provided by the Beyond Project. Jessica, hairstylist and founder, of the Beyond Project shared with our team her motivation in serving the community “Seeing the transformation in the youth is why we do this!”  

Each participant left with shoes, pants, shirts, jackets, accessories and a duffle bag to tote their items in. Foster parent to two of the participants shared “the boys were treated like kings and were very happy with the things they received”. It takes a village to raise a child and our village is strong!  

To learn more about the Ruby Room visit www.rubyroomseattle.org/ and the Beyond Project at www.thebeyondproject.org/