Comfort Cases, the local and regional charity that collects necessary items to distribute to foster children, is again in need of donations for their September 27 packing party at Linton Hall School in Bristow from 10 a.m. to noon.
Teen Emily Stevens and her mom Terri Aufmuth Stevens of Bristow first brought the Comfort Cases charity to Northern Virginia last spring when they collected duffle bags, backpacks, pajamas, stuffed animals, blankets and toiletries for children in Virginia foster homes.
The Stevens were inspired by family-friend Robert Scheer, who founded the Comfort Cases charity in Maryland. Having spent most of his childhood in foster care, Scheer remembered what it was like to move from home to home. As a foster child, he could take little with him and never really felt as though he owned anything.
When Scheer became an adult, he adopted children out of foster care. Being a foster and adoptive parent, he remained acutely aware of the realities of foster children today. Sadly, he found that today’s foster children also had little to call their own,
“When Robert was in the system, all he had was a garbage bag to carry his things. He adopted four children, and when they came to him they also had only garbage bags,” Emily explained.
Now, there are just four days before Comfort Case’s autumn packing party to assemble together sleep-away items for Northern Virginia’s foster children in need; Terri and Emily are working furiously to meet the needs of those children. While they are extremely thankful for everyone who has donated thus far, to meet the current need, they are asking more community members to take part. With their help, they hope to make the event a success as it was in the spring.
[/caption] At this point, they are most in need of two items: backpacks and pajamas. A backpack can be a traditional school backpack or a duffle bag. Pajamas can range in size from infant to adult, as children are in the foster care system from a few days old to 18 years of age. Terri recommends people purchase backpacks from Five Below in Virginia Gateway in Gainesville. Five Below has partnered to help Comfort Cases in the past, and at $5 a piece, their backpacks are extremely affordable. However, any new backpack or duffle bag will do.
Other items that Comfort Cases still need include stuffed animals or plush toys; pencils, pens and crayons; toiletries such as travel sized shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, body wash, deodorant or lip balm; floss and tooth paste; combs and hair brushes; coloring books; books for all readers; journals; underwear; teen t-shirts and shorts; and shaving supplies for teenagers. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Comfort Cases helps children of all ages from the youngest newborns to teens thus different sizes are needed.
Those making a donation can drop their items off at one of several convenient locations at various places in Northern Virginia: Sweet Creations or Postnet in Bristow Center (the Harris Teeter Shopping Center); RGS Title on Iron Bar Lane in Gainesville; RGS Title in Manassas; Fauquier Bank at all Fauquier County locations; Simply Pure on Lineweaver Road in Warrenton; Enterprise Suites/Titleworks on Jermantown Road in Fairfax; or Paul Forbes Allstate in Reston.
Alternately, those who would like to volunteer their time at the packing party can bring their donations with them. Last spring, their packing party was a great success, and the Stevens hope this year will be the same. Those who participated reported having a great time. Terri said that Linton Hall School has been a terrific help. They are even having their Little Sprout preschoolers collect items and they will have their own packing party on Friday morning.
Emily reminds readers that one donation can make a big difference in comforting a child during a time of emotional upheaval.
“I love that Comfort Cases spreads awareness about how often times children go into the foster care system without much. But the awareness that Comfort Cases brings allows for the volunteers and donations, which can be put to use to hopefully add ‘comfort’ to a child’s transition into the foster care system,” Emily said.
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