Hope in a Suitcase
Over 30,000 youths are in foster care in Los Angeles County alone. Many children do not have a suitcase or a duffel bag when they enter foster care, especially in emergency situations. They often have to bring whatever belongings they can fit into a plastic trash bag. And, unfortunately, the foster families welcoming the children have generally had very little time to prepare for their arrival.
Despite efforts to provide a stable family environment for each child, many children in foster care have to move several times before being reunified with their birth-families or before finding a forever family through legal guardianship or adoption.
Our hope is to provide a personalized suitcase, with essentials, to the children of Los Angeles as they enter foster care and as they join a loving foster family. The intent of our gesture is to not only reassure children that we value them as individuals, but also that their personal belongings deserve the same respect and care as they do, no matter where they go.
Recognizing the unique needs of older youth to choose their own items, Hope in a Suitcase hosts regular Shopping Days where referred foster tweens and teens can shop – entirely free of charge – for new clothing, luggage, and books. Our Shopping Days allow foster youth, who often feel like they are at the mercy of other people's decisions, the opportunity to choose the items that make them feel great and which fit their personal body types, tastes and needs.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide children and teens in foster care with a suitcase/duffel bag, along with basic essentials and comfort items, to make their transition and circumstances just a little easier. We want children to enter a new foster family and/or school community with dignity, and without the lasting memory of arriving with a trash bag. Hope in a Suitcase's current program concentration is in the Greater Los Angeles area. As we expand, we will be sure to let everyone know!
“During my 20+ years advocating for LA county foster children, the thing that continually struck me was how resilient children can be. Despite the hardships they face, kids somehow find ways to keep laughing, playing and imagining. Often, it’s the little things at the right time, that really do make a world of a difference. I believe Hope in a Suitcase can be that initial reminder to let them know that they matter and that they are not alone.”
Suitcases are filled with the basic essentials every child deserves. We strive to provide each child with:
New roller suitcase or duffel bag
New pajamas
Several new comfortable changes of clothes
New blanket, stuffed animal or other comfort item
New shoes
New socks & underwear
Toiletry kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, brush / comb, deodorant, etc.)
A journal and/or a book (thanks to Make Good, Inc. / The Book Foundation!)
It is core to our philosophy that children who are in foster care through zero fault of their own be provided with a levee of quality that we would all want for our own children if they were going through a traumatic event.
Our Finances
For information about our finances, please review our 2018 990 IRS tax return, 2019 990 IRS tax return, 2020 990 IRS tax return, 2021 990 IRS tax return and our 2022 990 IRS tax return. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about our operations.