WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Lynette Kaichen of Effingham as June’s Granite Stater of the Month. Lynette founded The Pass Along Project, which provides clothing to children in foster care.
Ten years ago, Lynette and her husband became foster parents for children in emergency cases. The children, who often had little time to pack a bag with personal items or clothes, would show up to their new foster home with nothing of their own. She realized that if an organization could have every size of clothing ready ahead of time, every child in a foster home could have the clothes that they need.
Lynette started assembling kits with over a full week’s worth of clothing and shoes in every size in her kitchen. Over the past eight years The Pass Along Project has grown and now serves more than 500 children across the state every year. Lynette’s goal is to be able to provide kits for all children in New Hampshire foster care and also those who have entered the care of their relatives under similar circumstances.
Lynette’s dedication to supporting children that are going through a difficult time is an outstanding example of the Granite State spirit of stepping up to help those in need. Her compassion and attentiveness to children entering foster care is why Senator Hassan named her June’s Granite Stater of the Month.
Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.
To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.
I am honored to recognize Lynette Kaichen of Effingham as June’s Granite Stater of the Month. Lynette founded an organization that provides clothing to children being placed in emergency foster care.
Ten years ago, Lynette and her husband became foster parents for children in emergency cases. In an emergency removal, kids going into foster care have little time to pack a bag with personal items or clothes, which means that most kids show up to their foster home with nothing of their own. Lynette was frustrated by the lack of support for these children, who are already going through a traumatic experience and have often lost everything, and by the fact that they have to move into a new and unfamiliar situation without any possessions. She knew that emergency foster parents would likely have some toiletries and toys or books ready, but the main problem that she ran into was not being able to plan ahead and have the correct size of clothing on hand. Lynette realized that if an organization could have every size of clothing ready ahead of time, every child in a foster home could have the clothes that they need.
Lynette decided to take action. She started The Pass Along Project from her kitchen table, putting together kits full of over a week’s worth of clothing and shoes in every possible size from newborn to adult, ready to be delivered on short notice to a foster parent giving a child a home. Over the past eight years the organization has grown to include a warehouse in Pembroke, and The Pass Along Project now serves more than 500 children across New Hampshire each year. Lynette’s goal is to be able to provide kits for all children in our state in foster care and also those who have entered the care of their relatives under similar circumstances.
Lynette’s dedication to supporting children that are going through a difficult time is an outstanding example of the Granite State spirit of stepping up to help those in need. Her compassion and attentiveness to children entering foster care is why I am proud to name her June’s Granite Stater of the Month.
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