Throughout the month of March, WFAA’s Duffels for Dignity campaign will collect donations of new luggage using an Amazon wish list.
DALLAS — Wednesday’s Child is near and dear to our WFAA family’s hearts, and now we need your help with a brand-new passion project benefitting children in foster care.
Throughout the month of March, WFAA is collecting donations of new luggage to provide to foster care agencies in North Texas.
There are 13,000 children in foster care in Texas. On average, a child moves at least four times while in care, according to Child Protective Services.
Some children move so many times that they’ve lost count. This is why we hope a small gift will help make a big difference. Whether it’s playing fetch with Fluff or giving belly rubs to sweet Susie, 14-year-old Jonathan felt hope today playing with the animals at Animal Services of Arlington.
“They make me feel joy, and if I’m angry, they help me calm down,” explained Jonathan.
Jonathan was just five years old when he was placed in foster care. His caseworker shared a heart-warming picture of sweet little Jonathan when he entered care. Bright-eyed, smiling and carrying a book, Jonathan looked full of life.
Unfortunately, for the last nine years, he has moved to so many placements that he has lost count. Jonathan remains hopeful he will find his forever family, but he admits that moving so many times can be disheartening.
“It gets hard because I just want to stay somewhere, and it’s just moving, moving, moving. You just want to stay in one place,” Jonathan said.
In 2023, Texas legislators passed a law ensuring no foster child is given a trash bag for their belongings when they must move. Still, there are cases where a child may only have a trash bag.
Johnathan’s caseworker, Emiko Boyer, says there’s been improvement, but the luggage foster children carry is still sad compared to what they deserve.
“They have things to keep their stuff in, but I’ve seen broken zippers, scratched up bags that barely close,” said Boyer.
This is why WFAA needs your help collecting new or gently used duffel bags and luggage to donate to children in foster care. We asked Jonathan if he thought it was a good idea.
“Yes. I think kids will want a nice bag and they can probably keep it for a long time,” said Jonathan.
He also said the kindness would fill many children with hope and confidence while they deal with the uncertainty of foster care.
WFAA’s Duffels for Dignity drive shows foster children that their precious few possessions are not garbage.
“They need good quality bags. When they move, they have to put their entire livelihood in a bag that’s falling apart. That tells them what they’re worth and I need my kids personally to know they are worth more than that and should have a good quality bag to move their belongings in,” said Boyer.
When Jonathan carries his new duffel bag WFAA gifted him, we hope it also makes him smile, knowing he is loved.
“I appreciate it. I know our kids appreciate it, and our community should appreciate it as well,” said Boyer.
Shop our Amazon wish list here to purchase a piece of luggage for a child in foster care. Only donations purchased through the Amazon wish list will be accepted. We are not able to accept gently used luggage.
