Children in Montgomery County who are put into foster care will now have something to take with them, and a local church is making that all possible.
On Wednesday, Children’s Services in Montgomery County received 40 suitcases filled with items to help some of the children in foster care from the Social Justice Ministry with Omega Baptist Church.
During the donation, Montgomery County Commissioner Judge Dodge issued a proclamation that the 600 children in foster car in Montgomery County sometimes leave home with only the clothes on their backs.
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“Church members launched Hope in a Suitcase to ensure kids had a nice new suitcase, isn’t that great? And, filled them with hygiene items to ensure the comfort level of vulnerable children in a difficult time I their lives,” Dodge said.
The suitcases of filled with hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, body wash, deodorant so that children in foster care can have something to take with them.
Montgomery County Children’s Services Rapid Response Manager, Jenny Cole, said, “What a thoughtful, meaningful way to comfort our children who come through Montgomery County Children’s Services.”
Kendra Heard, leader of Social Justice Ministry at Omega Baptist Church said they wanted to do something to help the community and with the pandemic, at first, they weren’t sure how to do that.
She said, “We had to get creative and found ways to serve the community we are a part of. So, we inquired with children’s services about their need and it was suitcases and items for children. We came together in Omega and made this happen for children’s services.”
With only 40 suitcases and so many children in foster care, Omega Baptist Church said once the 40 suitcases are gone, they will hold another drive donation to create more.