Fostering Hope is a nonprofit in East Tennessee begun by Chante Hensley and her family in 2013 to provide resources and support to foster children and their families. Their largest project supplies backpacks or suitcases of hygiene products, school supplies, and comfort items (a blanket and teddy bear) to foster children.
Laid Out Like Trash
Chante, who previously worked as a social worker in Massachusetts, was inspired to start this service after going to pick up a foster child and move her to an adoptive home. When Chante drove into the neighborhood, she was shocked to see the child sitting in the cul-de-sac with her belongings in a trash bag. It struck Chante that the child looked like she’d been laid out by the street like trash. She came to see that this child represented the hundreds of thousands of foster children around the country being moved around from home to home with what meager belongings they had in trash bags, making them feel worthless and like they themselves were nothing more than garbage.
The bags Fostering Hope TN give to the foster children of East Tennessee offer love, self-worth, and hope. Watch as Margie Fink, cofounder of Transfiguring Adoption, interviews Chante about what they do and why.
Ways You Can Be Involved:
- Donate supplies
- Help stuff bags
- Serve at their annual picnic or Christmas party
- Spread the word about the need and what Fostering Hope does
Contact Fostering Hope TN
Facebook: Fostering Hope TN Facebook
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fosteringhopetn.org
Phone: 865-466-7513
Other Organizations Providing Backpacks, Suitcases, or Duffel Bags
Fostering Hope TN is an organization local to Knoxville, TN, so what if you don’t live nearby and would like to help a similar organization or need a similar service? I’m working to compile the following list of local and national organizations providing backpacks, bags, or luggage to foster children. Have one to add?
International:
- It’s My Very Own (United States, Canada, Australia)
National:
- My Stuff Bags Foundation
- One Simple Wish – Carry On Initiative
- The Forgotten Initiative – Journey Bags
- Together We Rise
California:
- Bags4kids
- Case for Kids
- Foster Kids Matter
- Hope in a Suitcase
Florida:
- Donate 4 Kidz (Southwest FL)
- Duffels4Kids (Jacksonville, FL)
- Greater Tampa Association of Realtors “B” Bags
Georgia:
Idaho:
Kansas:
- Bundles of Hope (Bourban County)
Massachusetts:
Michigan:
Missouri:
- Bundles of Hope (Barry, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton & Stone Counties)
- Columbia Adoption Project
- All Kids in Care/Missouri Pay It Forward (Columbia)
- Angel Wings Clothing Closet (MO)
Nebraska:
New York:
Ohio:
Oklahoma:
- Bundles of Hope (Ottowa County)
- Luggage with Love
Rhode Island:
South Carolina:
Tennessee:
- Fostering Hope TN (Knoxville area)
- Karry 4 Kids (Anderson Co.)
Texas:
Virginia:
Washington:
- Fostering Together Backpack Drive
- Luggage of Love (Kalama, WA)
Wisconsin:
- MOST – My Own Special Tote (Sheboygan Co.; Contact Ashley Denee Godbee on Facebook)
Kristina Hill
I am interested in bringing a program similar to FosteringHopeTN to the Lawrence County TN area. I would like more information on how to start up a program like this; as a member of Lawrence County Rotary we are working on making a project like this begin sometime in early 2018 and partner with DCS…… but I want it to be more than a one time event.
Please provide any information you are able to regarding such. I truly appreciate your help.
Margie Fink
There is a contact link on their website (http://fosteringhopetn.com/contact/). Hopefully they can get you some information on steps they took to get their project rolling.