Tonia Fede donates bags of supplies for 25 children in foster care. The bags were distributed to children living in Indian River County, the northernmost part of CCKids' Community of Care, which includes Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.

Former Foster Youth Ensures Kids Return to School with Supplies

August 17, 2022

Vero Beach - As a young person who spent much of her childhood in foster care, Antonia Fede received federal funding that would help her make a successful transition into independence while also navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

She budgeted carefully and used what she needed. And with the rest, she purchased school supplies for children in foster care so that they, too, find success.

Antonia Fede, who goes by Tonia, bought 25 backpacks, stuffed them with supplies and donated them to Communities Connected for Kids, the nonprofit that oversees the very child-welfare system that provided her foster-care services and helped place her in an adoptive home.

The former resident of both St. Lucie and Indian River counties earned an associate’s degree from Indian River State College and is now attending Florida A&M University for advanced degrees in social work.

Eventually, she wants to attend law school and become a civil rights lawyer.
“I have been in and out of care growing up throughout my life. I have always had a passion for helping those around the world, standing up for what’s right, and, most importantly, those in need. I feel as though elders and children are the most mistreated in society.”

Tonia said she wanted to give back to the community that helped her when she was in foster care. She says she is especially grateful to a former case manager and her adoptive mother, who she credits for guidance and keeping her motivated through college.
“Words are not even enough to express how much I’m thankful,” she said.

Tonia’s donation of backpacks brought CCKids’ total collection to nearly 300 bags – enough to send every child in out-of-home care to school with new supplies, or about 40 percent of all children in the child-welfare community of care in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie County.

The United Way of St. Lucie & Okeechobee County also contributed supplies as part of its Back to School Bash initiative.