Maddie Weymouth, left, stands recently with boxes of donated “entertainment packs” outside the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in Augusta. Weymouth, a senior at Winthrop High School, led the effort to create 50 of the packs — containing toys and games — for Maine foster children awaiting placement at a new home. Submitted photo

WINTHROP — Maddie Weymouth, a senior at Winthrop High School, led a donation effort recently that is expected to bring joy to about 50 foster children awaiting placement at a new home.

Tiff Shaw, adviser to the National Honor Society at the school, suggested Weymouth contact Kelley Hooper, a senior planner for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, chair of the Winthrop Public Schools board and an organizer for the faith formation and sacramental preparation group at St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church at 20 Lake St.

The project came together quickly from there.

Weymouth decided to create “entertainment packs” for the foster children, consisting of a water bottle, coloring book, crayons, 12 fidget toys, a notebook and a sticker book.

“Maddie is a stellar human being with an immense compassion and empathy for others,” Hooper said. “She thought of the broader community, and identified a population that is often overlooked by the general population.”

Weymouth created an Amazon wish list with all the necessary items, which was sent to community members by email and posted on the high school’s Facebook page.

Everything sold out in a day.

“Community members who contributed loved the idea of my project,” Weymouth said, “and were thrilled to help out and also make an impact on the lives of foster children.”

Members of the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church faith formation and sacramental preparation group fill bags with toys and games for Maine foster children awaiting placement at new homes. The Winthrop church group assembled 50 bags that project leader Maddie Weymouth, a senior at Winthrop High School, delivered in February to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Submitted photo

Some 50 people gave about $800, including cash donations, and 11 children and four adults helped fill each of the 50 bags. From there, Hooper coordinated with the Office of Child and Family Services at DHHS, which is sharing the packages with foster children.

Hooper said she did not know how many foster children are awaiting placement at a new home.

“I’m not sure of that number,” she said, “but I know it’s more than anyone would like.”

Weymouth said she was thankful for the outpouring of community support.

“It felt very good being able to give back,” she said. “I would love to pass this project down to a future member of the National Honor Society, and they will be able to continue this project for years to come. If no one is will to take over, I may do this again in the future.”

Hooper said Weymouth’s efforts will bring much joy to many children.

“Maddie has a lot of compassion and recognized children coming into care are experiencing a traumatic event, the likes of which most people cannot comprehend,” Hooper said.

“She also realized there is a lot of waiting, and understood children are generally removed from their homes with none of their belongings. These packs give the kids something that belongs to them and, hopefully, a small amount of entertainment and distraction.”