if you start at the beginning of this blog, you will see how Knapsacks of Hope came into being and grew into fruition. You will also read about koh #2 (as we affectionately call it) and how it successfully happened.
recently, i had the happy fortune to have lunch with trill in georgia, and passed her the last three boxes of actual bags; trill had plans for those bags, as you will read in a minute. that is how koh #3 came into being.
before i post trill's letter re: koh #3, i'd like to tell you that labsnabys and misshap will be walking in The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago the first weekend in June. i will be joining them and will be working in the med tents. labs and missy are a lil ahead of me (ok, a lot ahead of me) and already have blogs so that you can follow their progress as they train for this two day marathon of almost 40 miles. so please check out labsavonwalk and misshapavonwalk and keep track of them.....i know we can count on our fellow mindsayers for lots of support, cheering, and dare i hope? the emptyin' of wallets. and btw, if any one would like to join us as a crew member or cheerleader, please contact either miss or labs on their awbc blogs; the addy at the top of this blog is defunct and since sass104 implemented it, i have no way to cross it out.
and now....i give you, koh #3 (from trill)
Ok, let's see. I broke up the bags between two charities.
One is "Totes 2 Tots." They collect new or used luggage, backpacks, duffel bags, etc for foster care kids. When a child leaves their home for another, most have to place all of their belongings into a garbage bag. Imagine that, everything you own in one garbage bag or grocery store sacks. Counselors have found that the transition is better on the child when they have something in which to place their belongings.
The person I spoke with said that they usually distribute all the bags they receive during that appeal in just a couple weeks. The organization I donated these to is doing a special appeal until March 13, they were thrilled to receive the Knapsacks, said they were absolutely perfect and will make a lot of foster children have that much more security and hope.
The other organization also deals with foster kids, it's a children's home for molested and abused children called SafePath. The home has several different sections, one for infants, another for young children, and another for teenagers. The part for older children includes a program to help them receive job training and other skills when they are moved "out of the system" at 18. Foster children are only given aid until that age, many have never had a permanent home and now they have no where to go. Far too many end up living on the streets or in jail, not certain how to deal with the real world. SafePath provides a bridge, teaching them skills a parent would normally teach, like cooking, cleaning, how to shop for groceries and make a budget, in addition to mentoring them with people who can help them learn job skills, and trying to get as many as possible to get grants and scholarships to go on to college.
As with other foster care, most of the children removed from abusive home and brought there have very few possessions, stuffed in to garbage bags or grocery sacks. For the younger ones, SafePath is often a temporary placement until a foster family can be found. I've helped with a few fund raisers for them, they've finally been able to move to new offices with more cheerful surroundings. Their budget is so tight, but local businesses pitch in to donate things like McDonald's gift cards or movie tickets to be used as rewards for good behavior. Something most kids take completely for granted like a trip to McDonald's, and it's a reward they look forward to for months.
They're so very appreciative of anything, and quite thrilled with the bags.
UPDATE:
According to the lady in charge of the collection for foster children, with our donation and the many other donations of various backpacks, suitcases and other bags, they ended up with exactly how many bags they needed for the children in their care.
The lovely people at SafePath were able to put the bags we gave them to good use- they used them as “swag bags” to hold goodies and info for their contributors at their annual fundraising dinner and auction. They called to say they didn’t have quite enough, did we have anymore? Happened the few I had kept out because they were folded or slightly crumpled were just enough.
They have been so very grateful for this donation; it was exactly what was needed at exactly the right time.
****
doesn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? guaranteed continued warm fuzzies if you get/stay involved....thanks for your support, mindsay!
avon walk for breast cancer
Anyway, I digress. 
