Chicago Foster Children Gain Dignity and Ownership with ‘Hope in a Suitcase’

Photos by Debonair Studio 

Thanks to caring and committed people, some Chicago-area foster children will have luggage to call their own. The Will County Black Diamond Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois held their 3rd Annual Hope in a Suitcase event on Saturday at the Blue Door Neighborhood Center.

TLOD and BCBSIL volunteers collected dozens of new and “gently loved” luggage and overnight bags for children in foster care. Monetary donations were also accepted.
The program was started because the TLOD community partnerships committee learned that many children in foster care transported their belongings in garbage bags when moving to new homes.

“We found that disturbing and sought to change that narrative to give children hope during a stressful time,” stated the TLOD in a release.

The mission was accomplished after Saturday’s event, where so many people dropped off new and gently used luggage.

The Chicago Fire Department Engines 115, 75 and Tall Ladder 24 donated numerous suitcases. In addition, CFD officials reached out on Monday to give more luggage.

In all, a total of 250 pieces were donated.

Thanks to their efforts and those of other donors, foster children in the Chicagoland area will experience a sense of pride and ownership in having their very own suitcase.

Below are photos from the Hope in a Suitcase event:

About Post Author

Tacuma Roeback, Chicago Defender Managing Editor

Tacuma R. Roeback is the Managing Editor for the Chicago Defender.

His journalism, non-fiction, and fiction have appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tennessean, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Phoenix New Times, HipHopDX.com, Okayplayer.com, The Shadow League, SAGE: The Encyclopedia of Identity, Downstate Story, Tidal Basin Review, and Reverie: Midwest African American Literature.

He is an alumnus of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Chicago State University, and Florida A&M University.

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