Red Scarf Project has ex-foster kids covered

NEW YORK - Soon, the red scarves will arrive at colleges around the country. For many of the former foster children unwrapping one on Valentine's Day, it will be their first new or handmade piece of clothing.

That was true for Amanda Babine, who spent her youth bouncing from foster home to foster home. One year she moved 11 times.

So she looked forward to having something new each Valentine's Day in college, and even bought red gloves and a red hat to coordinate. "It feels very personal, someone is taking the time and effort to make you something," said Babine, now 24 and living in Washington, D.C.

In all, some 2,500 Red Scarf Project packages will be sent this Valentine's Day through the annual project run by the Orphan Foundation of America. The recipients are all current or former foster children enrolled in college who receive scholarships through the foundation.

The group also acts as a support system to the students - since they are largely on their own - by being in regular contact through phone calls, e-mails and care packages. But the Red Scarf project has become the group's signature effort, with the scarves outshining the candy, gift cards and school supplies that fill the Valentine's Day packages.

They're all made by knitters who volunteer their time and hobby anonymously.

The Orphan Foundation gives $15 million a year in scholarships and grants to 3,000 students - a fraction of the 25,000 who "age out" of foster care every year, according to Lynn Davis, foundation director of community partnerships.

They now get about 5,000 scarves a year. Half go to students in college the group supports and the rest to children in foster care.

Gus Grinstead, of Toledo, Ohio, submitted her first red scarf this year. "You can always send them candy but this is something

they'll always have," she said.