Where can i donate suitcases for foster care near me

Every Child Matters

Our mission is to provide children in foster care, something to call their own & send them a message that they are cared for by the community.

What is Hope in a Suitcase?

Hope in a Suitcase Australia is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers who are incredibly passionate about showing every child in the foster care system that they are loved and valued by their community.

We aim to do this by giving them a suitcase of their very own to ensure they have a safe and secure place in which to pack their belongings and take with them wherever their journey may lead.

The suitcases are filled with essential items such as toiletries, (sanitary items for the older girls), underwear, a set of pyjamas and a change of clothing. They also include something to cuddle for the younger children, a book to read, a journal or colouring-in books and pencils to encourage creativity and provide a distraction away from their turmoil.

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Learn More About What We Do

How You Can Help

There are many ways in which you can help us provide suitcases of hope to precious children and young people across Australia.

• Donations of items to fill our suitcases - see full list of items needed per age group below
• Donations to purchase suitcases or items needed
• Get your school, workplace, church or sporting club involved by sharing our vision and offering to be a donation collection point
• Show your support on social media by liking & sharing our Facebook page

Find Hope in a Suitcase in your State

New South Wales

Bringing Hope to Foster Children in New South Wales, Australia

Queensland

Bringing Hope to Foster Children in the Sunshine State - Queensland, Australia

Victoria

Bringing Hope to Foster Children in the state of Victoria, Australia

Tasmania

Bringing Hope to Foster Children in Tasmania, Australia

Make an Online Donation Today

Please contact us here for alternative methods of donating.

The Vision of Hope in a Suitcase

It is a sad reality that each week across Australia, hundreds of children and young people will enter foster care or out-of-home care. Most of the time, when children are removed from their home, it happens very quickly and is quite traumatic. It’s usually not possible for them to gather their belongings, therefore it is common for them to come into care with only the clothes on their back, or carrying a plastic bag filled with a few items grabbed in a hurry. Sadly, these plastic bags are dragged with them from placement to placement as unfortunately many children will move multiple times before re-unification with their birth-families becomes possible, or they find a forever family through legal guardianship or adoption.

The suitcases we aim to deliver to these children are filled with essential items such as toiletries, (sanitary items for the older girls), underwear, a set of pyjamas and a change of clothing. They also include something to cuddle for the younger children, a book to read, a journal or colouring-in books and pencils to encourage creativity and provide a distraction away from their turmoil.

The effects of ‘hope in a suitcase’ go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide. It is empowering and makes room for positive change within our community. Children with a strong sense of self-worth feel competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and feel worthy of success and happiness. It gives them a solid foundation for their learning and development.

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Do you need a spare bedroom to foster?