Ways to Give
Suitcase & Gift Card Initiative
The Reality:
Foster care children have very few personal belongings. They range in age from newborn infants to 21 year old young adults and usually own a couple of outfits, some photographs, and a stuffed animal or toy. When they are moved between families, foster children are often forced to carry their keepsakes and belongings in plastic trash bags. Carrying their items in bags can be embarrassing and yet another reminder of how little they have.
Foster children deserve to carry their belongings with dignity and confidence. You can help by starting a local collection drive for suitcases, gift, and gas cards to benefit foster children in your community
The Facts:
- 220 CASA/GAL volunteers serve over 500 children throughout Kane County.
- All children who came into abuse/neglect & probate courts are appointed a CASA/GAL volunteer.
- 99.7% of all children with a CASA/GAL did not experience a recurrence of abuse and neglect in 2011.
- Last year, the judge accepted 98% of our CASA volunteers’ recommendations.
- Over 16,000 volunteer hours were contributed to the CASA Kane County program last year.
- 92% of children served remained with the same CASA volunteer throughout the year.
- DCFS received nearly 4,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in Kane County.
How You Can Make a Difference:
Step 1
Decide where to collect new suitcases & gift cards: Consider asking your church, community center, school, library, Chamber of Commerce, business leads groups, and social service groups.
Step 2
Choose a contact person at your organization who will work with CASA.
Step 3
Publicize your collection-drive – Get the word out by placing phone calls to members, send out e-mails to friends and family, post notices and/or flyers where available. Let people know exactly what to collect and where and when to drop off the items.
Step 4
Deliver the suitcases and gift cards. Drop off the suitcases at the CASA Kane County office, or call 630-232-4484 to schedule someone to come and pick them up.
Optional Step 5
Volunteer. Come into the CASA office to fill the suitcases with items. Learn more about our cause, and help spread the word about our mission.
What the Sponsor Group or Individual Will Provide:
- Suitcases - diaper bags for babies, suitcases on wheels for young children, duffle bags on wheels for teens and young adults.
- Gas cards for volunteers to drive and visit with the children on their case
- Toiletries and Personal Items (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes)
- Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Target) for incidentals and clothes
Click here to download the Suitcase, GIft & Gas Card Program Sponsorship Form.
Kane County Courthouse - 100 S. Third St., Suite 460 - Geneva, IL 60134