Foster children are often taken into protective custody with only a few minutes to gather their personal belongings. Executive Director of Geaux Bags, K.C. Kilpatrick began her charity seven years ago to help children with the transition, so they’ll have everything they need for their first night in foster care.
“It’s a pillow, a blanket, a backpack, toiletries, comfort item, pajamas, packs of underwear, water, snack, and one of the most important things is a note of encouragement,” said Kilpatrick.
Kilpatrick was inspired to start the charity, dedicated to providing personal items for children, when the first two foster children she cared for brought with them an item emphasizing the dire need to help the smallest victims of crime.
“In that was a meth pipe in a Winn-Dixie bag. The idea that these children were so close to all that and that they had really no resources of their own, I got mad and that’s how Geaux Bags started,” said Kilpatrick.
Last week Kilpatrick and her husband delivered 800 Geaux Bags to DCFS in New Orleans. Each bag costs about $100 and is customized for children ranging from infants to teenagers. They are distributed to regional DCFS offices across the state.
Kilpatrick always includes a letter of encouragement for each bag and many of those letters are from other children. She said it is important to let them know they are not alone.
“I really just want to take that moment and just nurture them in a really horrible time they didn’t cause,” said Kilpatrick.
If you would like to donate or help Geaux Bags with their packing event go to GeauxBags.org for more information.
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