Trash Bags are not suitcases

Foster children often enter care often with little or no belongings and are only given a couple of minutes and a trash bag to pack what they need. At the same time, foster parents are given very little notice about a new placement and struggle to provide the essentials they need at a moment’s notice.

foster love - One bag at a time

We have provided 100 brand-new duffel bags filled with hygiene and comfort items to foster children.

Hygiene Items: facial towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, or wide toothcomb.
Comfort Items: coloring book, crayons, hand-made blanket, and a soft and cuddly teddy bear from Build-A-Bear Worksop.

Impact of first-night duffle bags

By replacing the trash bag with a duffle bag, we help increase feelings of self-worth and remove the homeless stigma from the process.
By providing the comfort of a hand-made blanket and a cuddly teddy bear, we help reduce stress and trauma and make children feel safe and cared for.
By providing the urgent essentials children need upon entering care, we allow the foster family to focus on mental well-being during a scary and uncertain time.
Reducing stress and trauma upon entering foster care can allow the children to have a less stressful introduction to a family, allowing them to form bonds and reduce multiple placements.