DAYTON — Uprooting is something many area children within the foster care system face consistently, according to area children’s services leaders. But an area couple and their church hopes their donations can help make moves and relocation a bit easier for these children.
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Fifty brand new suitcases were donated to the Haines Children’s Center in Dayton Wednesday by the Omega Baptist Church, filled with personal care and hygiene products for children in foster care.
“Their clothes are in trash bags … paper garbage bags … the suitcases will give our children the opportunity to place their belongings in a safe secure presentable form of moving,” Craig Rickett, Director, Montgomery County Children Services said Wednesday.
There are over 600 Montgomery County children in foster care at any given time, but for Carrlo Heard and his wife Kendra, they hope the suitcases and supplies can help some of those children through tough times.
“To have to go from house to house … to have to carry your items in the trash bags … It’s just something that I don’t think that we ever think about,” Carrlo told News Center 7′s Candace Price.
“The need was toiletries ... suitcases … things that the kids could receive. They could give them some type of dignity as they’re transitioning in and out of homes. Things that we use miscellaneously every day ... that we don’t even take a second to think about,” Kendra said.
Carrlo and Kendra credited Omega Baptist Church for helping with the donations, saying the “suitcases of hope” wouldn’t be possible without the church’s support.
“Anytime we ask … they step up without question,” Carrlo said. “Everyone came together donated much needed items … bought suitcases,” Kendra said.
“It was really just being an impact that we were for those kids so that they know that they are loved … not forgotten,” Kendra added.
“I think it’s the least we can do,” Carrlo said.