Staff reports

Backpacks of Hope, a ministry of Always Endure, has provided children in foster care more than 130 Backpacks of Hope since January, according to Corey Buckner, CEO of Always Endure. Last year, Always Endure distributed more than 170 backpacks for the entire year. Buckner expects many more Backpacks of Hope will be needed before years’ end. Therefore, the public is being asked for help in providing additional backpacks for foster children. “Because of the increase in need we are running low on filled backpacks,” said Brittany Buckner. Backpacks are distributed to children in the House of Hope’s service area so they have a place to store all of their belongings. They are also a reminder to children that they are not alone.

Why the need for backpacks? When entering the foster care system, most children carry their belongings in trash bags, according to Buckner. Backpacks of Hope are filled with essentials and encouragement for children and teens in foster care.

“This is a great summer project for your family or your small group to get involved in,” Buckner said.

Many children and teens in foster care have never had anything they can call their own. “Each backpack will include brand new items that will make them feel loved and cover basic hygiene needs during a traumatic time in their lives,” said Buckner.

Item ideas include travel-size toiletries, hair care items, socks and underwear, journals and pens, age appropriate gifts, notes of encouragement and age appropriate books. “We would love for you to include a Bible and/or a Christ-centered, age appropriate book,” she said. “We have also had a lot of requests for NeeDoh. Remember if your kids love it, children and teens in foster care do as well. We would love to have some to give out to make these kids feel special and like they fit in,” Buckner said. Nee Doh are palmsize, squishy sensory toys, fidgets and stretchy stress balls perfect for squeezing away stress or fidgeting hands. A needed items list may be downloaded at https://www.alwaysendure.com/backpacksofhope or donors can shop from the Backpack of Hope Amazon list.

Local donations may be dropped off at the Bank of Lincoln County Park City Branch, 2702 Huntsville Highway. In Alabama, they can be dropped off at North Alabama Bank – Providence Main, 220 Providence Main Street Northwest, Huntsville, Alabama.