Cases For Kids Program

July 15, 2014

When children arrive at Youth For Tomorrow, they often arrive owning only the clothes on their backs. Through your generosity, the children are given clothing, shoes and other possessions to call their own. When they successfully graduate, YFT residents take these possessions with them as they depart. However, their belongings are packed into trash bags.

Derrick Riggins, Director of Community Government Relations at YFT, can relate to the children as he went through the foster system himself. Derrick can attest the children are most thankful for everything they receive at YFT, but is sensitive to the negative connotation of packing belongings into trash bags.

Derrick has begun gathering suitcases for residents departing YFT. We have partnered with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the Giving Circle at Heritage Hunt. We have already collected over 15 suitcases!

If you have new or used (in good condition) suitcases, please consider donating them to YFT to distribute to residents as they depart. Having a suitcase to carry possessions may seem trivial to us, but it shows the children they matter – they are going home with a changed life and a sense of belonging.