Suitcase of Hope
The Suitcase of Hope was the first new program to be launched at The Peet Op Shop Ball for Anglicare WA in March 2009.
When children are placed in foster care, they are often forced to leave with little in the way of personal possessions and have only minutes in which to gather them. These children typically arrive at a carer’s home with precious few belongings in a black plastic garbage bag. The bag, and their meagre belongings, will often go with them from foster home to foster home. As a foster care agency, Anglicare works hard to give these children a caring, supportive home. But we struggle to find the money to pay for the little extras that can help make a child feel valued, to help restore their dignity and self esteem.
And so, the Suitcase of Hope was born.
Guests at The Peet Op Shop Ball for Anglicare WA 2009 raised funds to support 127 children in care this year. Thanks to their generosity, each child placed in foster care will receive $500 to begin their own, personal Suitcase of Hope. This $500 will provide a suitcase of basic toiletries, a towel and money to shop with their carer for new clothes, toys, shoes and other items…. all of their own choosing. Often for the first time in their life, they get to purchase something new, something that is truly their own.
Since the Ball, 41 children have received a Suitcase of Hope.