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LET’S STOCK THE YEAR

NWPMA x Project 48

Help Project 48 secure 12+ months of essentials, one priority at a time.

CURRENT PRIORITY: SWEATSHIRTS + JOGGERS

30-DAY TARGETS:

100 sweatshirts—NWPMA Target
100 pairs of joggers—Validated by Project 48

Help cover the next 30 days.

Bring it. Pledge it. Ship it.

Learn More About Project 48

You Brought the Bags. Now Let’s Fill Them.

The bag donations already received and pledged are real momentum, and we’re grateful.

Project 48 packs approximately 50 essential bags every month, year-round, for foster youth ages 7–23 across four counties. One show’s worth of donations doesn’t cover that. A year’s worth can.

The NWPMA Fall Show on August 19 is our big stocking milestone, not the finish line. Members can bring qualifying donations to the stocking station at the show, pledge product now, or ship directly to Project 48.

About Project 48

Project 48 supports youth entering foster care by providing essential bags filled with the basic items many of us use every day. These bags help young people feel seen, supported, and cared for during an incredibly difficult transition.

Project 48 serves youth ages 7–23 and has served 6,344 foster youth since 2019, as of July 2026, through essential bags, life skills programming, holiday support, and culturally responsive care.

Meet Project 48

NWPMA President Nicole Stachowicz sat down with Jessie Fox from Project 48 to talk about who they serve, what goes into an essential bag, and how the promo industry can help support youth entering foster care.

Why This Matters

Project 48 keeps essentials in stock on purpose so every young person can receive brand-new clothing and hygiene items within 48 hours of entering care.

Project 48 reports that it purchases approximately 85% of the inventory used in its essential bags with funding from monetary donations and grants. Every useful in-kind product donation reduces what Project 48 must purchase and allows more funding to support programs including Life Skills, the food pantry, Black Hair and Cultural Care, and youth-led workshops.

Our industry is uniquely positioned to help provide the products Project 48 uses throughout the year.

Current Priority: Sweatshirts + Joggers

Project 48 has confirmed that 100 pairs of joggers represents approximately one month of need. Our 100-sweatshirt goal is an NWPMA target while we confirm Project 48’s monthly sweatshirt quantity.

These are two of Project 48’s biggest-ticket essentials, which means in-kind donations can free up more of its purchasing budget for other programs.

Apparel guidance:

Everything must be new and unused.
Brand-name apparel is not required.
New, high-quality blank and classic basics are wanted and needed.
Classic, wearable styles are preferred.
Adult apparel: neutral colors preferred — black, white, cream, tan, grey, navy, and dark green.
Youth apparel may be colorful or printed.
Accepted sizes: adult XS–4X and youth 4/5–14.
If possible, label cartons or provide quantities by size.

Other Confirmed Product Needs

If sweatshirts and joggers are not your category, Project 48 has also confirmed the following monthly needs:

T-shirts: 150 — ideally 50 black, 50 white, and 50 grey
Backpacks or duffels: 50 — high quality
Leggings: 50 pairs — girls and women
Athletic shorts: 50 pairs — boys and men
Toiletry pouches: approximately 50

The current campaign priority remains sweatshirts and joggers. Other useful inventory is still welcome.

Hygiene Support

Project 48 can use new and unused:

Combs
Hairbrushes
Toiletry pouches
Toothbrushes
Chapstick
Lotion
Mirrors

Project 48 uses approximately 50 toiletry pouches per month. The current pouch size is approximately 9.2 × 12.5 inches, with waterproof preferred.

Branded pouches are acceptable except for casino, church, political, or similar restricted branding.

Birthday and Holiday Extras

As a secondary ask, Project 48 also welcomes new and unused extras for birthday and holiday bags:

Water bottles
Journals
Stuffed animals
Fidgets
Blankets seasonally in winter

Plain and unbranded is preferred. If you have branded overstock that may be a fit, let us know what you have.

What Inventory May Qualify?

It doesn’t need to be a perfect assortment. It does need to be new and unused.

Overstock, samples, discontinued styles, showroom stock, and canceled orders may qualify, subject to Project 48 acceptance.

Project 48 coordinates pickup and provides tax receipts.

Three Ways to Contribute

Bring it. Bring qualifying product to the stocking station at the NWPMA Fall Show on August 19. The stocking station will be open throughout the show.
Pledge it. Contact Shay Murphy at shay@nwpma.org or use the Questions or Pledges section below. Project 48 can help coordinate logistics and pickup.
Ship it. Send donations to:

Project 48

c/o Brandy McDonald

2505 SE 11th, Suite 122

Portland, OR 97202

Please include your company name so your donation can be tracked and recognized.

Companies Stocking the Year

Thank you to the companies helping stock essential items for Project 48.