Imagine being in foster care. Imagine being removed from your family, maybe separated from your siblings. You may feel sad or scared, because despite the reasons for being removed from your family, you love them because they are all you know. Imagine living with strangers and sleeping in a new place. Imagine transferring to new schools over and over again. Imagine moving from foster home to foster home and feeling unwanted when you're moved. Now imagine all those moves and having nothing to pack your belongings into but trash bags. Imagine being one of the few children to overcome all the obstacles of foster care and you're going off to college. You move into your college dorm and meet your new roommate (s). They have brought all of their belongings in numerous suitcases, tote bags, etc. All you have are trash bags full of items you have collected over your years in foster care.
This is the unfortunate reality for children and young adults in the foster care system. Children are moved to new foster home more often than is ideal. Kids in foster care are unfortunately often bounced from foster home to foster home. Each move is more and more difficult for them emotionally. There are always feelings of loss when a child moves from a placement. Moving often makes them very hesitant to trust, and open up to a new foster family. Building relationships and friendships becomes harder. Then, on top of everything they are going through, kids are carrying what belongings they do have in trash bags. At Fostering Futures, we are making it our mission to make sure every child in foster care feels that they are worth more than a trash bag.
You can help us provide children and young adults in foster care with suitable luggage to carrying their belongings in. Here are several ways you can help:
Gift a new piece of luggage to a child or young adult in foster care today, using the link below. Your purchase can be shipped directly to Fostering Futures and will provide hope and dignity to a child in foster care.
Your donation allows us to purchase new suitcases and bags for children in foster care.
Case Managers and Foster Parents: Do you have a child or young adult who does not have a piece of luggage to carry their belongings in?
To request a piece of luggage please contact Erin at erin@fosteringfuturesmo.org or 314-323-8460