Jan. 1, 1970
Foster care is not just a government issue. It’s a community issue
Each May, during National Foster Care Awareness Month, we pause to recognize the more than 370,000 children across the United States living in foster care. These young people often enter the system under incredibly difficult circumstances, carrying not only uncertainty about the future but often nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
Too often, they’re handed just a trash bag to carry their few belongings — an object that, whether intentionally or not, conveys a painful message: You don’t matter. This is not the welcome any child deserves. It’s not the message we should be sending to youth already coping with trauma, instability and loss.
As someone who spent years in foster care myself, I remember that feeling all too well. I remember the shame of dragging a garbage bag from one home to another. I remember feeling invisible, disconnected, and unworthy of even the most basic comforts. That memory stayed with me and ultimately inspired me to create Comfort Cases — a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that no child entering foster care ever has to carry their life in a trash bag again.
At Comfort Cases, we believe small acts of dignity make a big impact. That’s why each Comfort Case backpack is thoughtfully packed with brand-new items: pajamas, a blanket, a stuffed animal, a book, activity supplies, and essential hygiene products. These may seem like simple things, but to a child in transition, they represent care, stability, and hope.
Recently, I had the privilege of witnessing that hope in action in South Bend. Together with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and a host of community volunteers, we held a packing party at the Charles Martin Youth Center. In just one afternoon, we filled 200 backpacks that will soon be in the hands of foster youth across St. Joseph County and beyond.
This event wasn’t just about backpacks — it was about sending a message. It was about reminding these children that they are seen, they are valued, and they are not alone. I’m incredibly grateful to Anthem for their years of partnership and commitment to our mission. Since 2018, they’ve helped organize numerous packing parties throughout Indiana, demonstrating what’s possible when corporations step up to support vulnerable populations.
But while these events are meaningful, they are not enough. If we truly want to improve the lives of children in foster care, we must push for comprehensive reform. We need more resources for foster families, better mental health support, and systems that prioritize permanency and connection. We need to ensure that when youth age out of foster care, they aren’t left to fend for themselves without housing, education, or guidance.
Foster care is not just a government issue — it’s a community issue. It’s a reflection of how we care for those who need us most. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and loved. Every child deserves a suitcase, not a trash bag.
This National Foster Care Awareness Month, let’s commit to more than awareness. Let’s commit to action, compassion, and change. Because no child should ever feel like they are disposable. Not now. Not ever.
Back to Press