Humanity House Foundation donated handmade duffel bags to the Iola Police Department so that children in transition have something to pack their belongings in.
Oftentimes children who are removed from their homes in instances of abuse have to leave quickly. Not only do they have little time to think of what they should pack but also lack proper luggage, said Iola Police Chief Jared Warner.
To make due, big plastic trash bags are used.
The police department in conjunction with Department of Children and Families furnishes the children with clothes and toys the police department keeps on hand.
“We can get pretty much whatever we need for a child,” Warner said. “It works out pretty good. We have a lot of people who truly care.”
Humanity House supplied 12 bags to the Iola Police Department. Warner said they will be provided to kids in need along with quilts donated by the Girl Scouts.
“Anything we can do to make it a little bit less stressful is good,” Warner said. “We are taking them from their home for a purpose, for their safety, so anything we can do to minimize the separation anxiety,” helps.
Children in foster care often move around.
“This gives us something other than a trash bag to put all their belongings in,” Warner said.
The idea for the duffel bags came from Janice Porter, director of ACARF. She was inspired when she saw a Facebook post of a man buying luggage for foster children.
“I knew I couldn’t buy luggage but I thought maybe if we could sew up some kind of bag. I just kind of saw the idea and passed it on,” she said.
Jan Kress is the seamstress who designed and sewed the first 17 bags.
“I am a quilter so I have a huge stash of material. The first dozen came from my stash of material,” she said. “I made a prototype and Tracy (Keagle) had some people look at it and they gave me some ideas and tweaked it a little and I took it home and started making them.”
Kress made a variety of bags designed to appeal to age infants through 17 years old and for both male and female. Each bag has an inside pocket and a draw string.
“Each one is unique. I think everyone needs something unique and special for themselves,” Kress said.
Humanity House filled each with a small fleece blanket, a comb, toothpaste and toothbrush and a composition book and pen.They are gladly accepting donated material so that more duffel bags can be crafted. Anyone who wishes to donate should drop it off at Humanity House. They are also looking for seamstresses who are willing to donate their time to help sew bags. Instructions on how to create the bags are available at Humanity House. Anyone wishing to donate composition books, pens or fleece blankets should drop off the donated items to Humanity House as well.
Humanity House project benefits foster children
