[Emmaus, PA] — The Kindness Project, a local foster care resource dedicated to supporting children and families navigating the foster care system, is proud to announce the launch of its newest initiative – The Kindness Express: A Mobile Boutique, a boutique-on-wheels traveling throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania to provide clothing, essentials, and confidence-building resources to children and teens entering the foster care system.
Designed to remove common barriers and meet foster families where they are, The Kindness Express will deliver free clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, baby equipment and comfort items, ensuring children entering care have what they need during an often stressful and uncertain time.
“Every child deserves dignity, stability, and the chance to show up confidently in their world,” said Jenae Holtzhafer, Founder and Executive Director. “The Kindness Express allows us to meet them where they’re at – privately and compassionately. When a child is displaced to an unfamiliar home with nothing but a small bag of mismatched items – or sometimes with nothing at all – we show up for them the way every child deserves. Our goal is to ensure to them they are seen, loved and that they matter.”
The Kindness Express will officially debut on Friday December 12, 2025 at 3:30PM at the The Kindness Exchange Boutique, 4752 Mill Rd, Emmaus, PA. Community members, donors, and supporters are invited to celebrate the launch, tour The Kindness Exchange, and learn how the resource is expanding support where it’s needed.
“Stuff the Truck” events are being scheduled as well – an opportunity for businesses, schools and other organizations to assist in supplying needed items for The Kindness Express through local donation drives.
The program is made possible through generous community partnerships, donations, and volunteers. Lehigh Valley Health Network Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Jefferson Health will partner with us for three years as our Premier Sponsor. They understand the importance of our support for children and youth who come to us, sometimes directly from their facilities.
“We want foster children to have the best chance of reaching their potential,” added Dr. Nathan Hagstrom, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, part of Jefferson Health. “The Kindness Express brings hope, dignity and support to the children, and the families opening their hearts and homes to them.”
About us: The Kindness Project – the Lehigh Valley’s premier donation-based, volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit – provides foster and adoptive families with essential items and support that make a difference in the life of a foster child. Items distributed at no cost include infant equipment (car seats, strollers, cribs, high chairs), diapers, infant formula, beds and bedding, clothing, shoes, hygiene items and much more. Thanks to this assistance, resource families are able to focus on the immediate physical and emotional needs of the children placed in their care.
