Charlie’s Dinosaur: Helping Foster Kids in Charlie and Braden Powell’s Honor

By Rachel Belle

Listen to Charlie’s Dinosaur Is Helping Foster Kids

It seemed like nothing good could come from the deaths of Charlie and Braden Powell, the 5 and 7-year-old boys killed by their father Josh Powell when he intentionally blew up their Graham house, with them still inside of it, in February.

But now, Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives have been inspired by a picture of a dinosaur, drawn by Charlie, that they found in Josh Powell’s rented storage unit. It’s one of the few items detectives have found with any personal connection to the boys, and it is now the symbol of Project Charlie’s Dinosaur.

“After the death of Charlie and Braden Powell, the detectives recovered a poster, and on that poster was a picture of a hand drawn dinosaur and then written below it was ‘Charlie’s Dinosaur.’ Well, the detectives looked at it and felt from all this bad there should come so good. So they met with Sheriff Ed Troyer and myself and said that they wanted to put together a program to provide foster children, children going into foster care for the first time, with a new backpack for school supplies, a roll-along suit case, new clothing and [make sure that everything is] absolutely brand new. The importance of brand new: If it still has tags on it, it isn’t hand-me-down, it isn’t used.”

George Hight coordinates Pierce County’s Toys For Tots program, and the Toys For Tots warehouse will house all the donations they’re hoping to get from you to give to foster kids.

“Right now we’re anticipating on putting together, in excess, of 1,100 backpacks a year because that’s how many foster children will go into foster care for the first time this year.”

These items will be collected this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., at a huge community event supporting Charlie’s Dinosaur.

“On the 30th of June we have put together a big fundraiser: Monster truck show, an RTI ramp, bands, vendors, food, music, entertainment, pro-wrestling arena and show out at Garage Plus in Spanaway.”

They’re looking for clothes for kids ages 3 to 16, toothbrushes, school supplies, books and a whole list of items that you can find listed below.

George says it’s very important that all the items be brand new with the tags on.

“Too often when children are going from a broken situation into foster care, their whole world is in a black trash bag and that is a bad statement to make to children. It says ‘You are nothing more than trash.’ We wanted the statement to be ‘You are brand new, you are wonderful and valuable and you have a great future ahead of you. You’re going through a rough period but that doesn’t change your future. We believe in you, you believe in yourself.'”

Charlie and Braden’s grandparents have been very supportive of the project, and they’re happy to lend Charlie’s dinosaur picture to the sheriff’s department for such a good cause.

“It is a tribute to the boys but it is also a promise to children. You know us old Marines, we care more about children than anything else. Children going into foster care have an especially tough future ahead of them and we want it to be as non-traumatic as possible in the transition. So, it’s a tribute to the boys but it’s mostly a tribute to children.”

Click here for more information on this weekend’s event and you can find information on how to donate year round, here.

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Here’s a list of the items they’re looking to collect:

Dear Donor, your gift will be delivered by the Pierce County’s Sheriff’s Department to Foster Care Children. Your kind generosity will make a meaningful and measurable difference and will be greatly appreciated. Below are suggested items needed to fill back packs for school and small suitcases to accompany the children into their new environment? It is so important that these children have the clothes and materials necessary to maintain their dignity.

Kids Clothing, ages 3 to 16
Under garments to include socks (Boys and Girls)
Pajama’s (Long Pants and Tops) practical, not fancy.
Sweat Suits (Boys and Girls)
Heavy and Light coats (Girls and Boys)
Hats/Caps/Gloves (Girls and Boys)
School Back Packs (Girls and Boys)
Airline carryon Bags with wheels (small)
Hair brush and comb
Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste
Deodorant (Boys and Girls)
Shampoo and Conditioner
Compact Mirror
Make Up Kit (Girls)
Curling iron, Flat iron and Blow dryers
Small radio alarm clocks
Pens and Pencils
Address Book
Journal
School Supplies (all types)
Colored Pencils, Crayons, Coloring Books
Drawing Pads
Craft kits, puzzles, travel games
Children’s Books, Young Adult and Teen