Sudbury woman wants Children's Aid wards to leave with more than just a garbage bag
"Just to have ... something that is their own," says Lee-Ann Wotton of suitcase drive
A woman in Sudbury, Ont., is trying to give wards of the Children's Aid some comfort and dignity — and she's asking the public for help.
- Garbage Bag Challenge aims to provide suitcases to foster children
- St. Thomas University students petition for foster care suitcases
Lee-Ann Wotton is behind a campaign in Sudbury called "Just in Case," which is collecting used suitcases for children and teens and who are removed from their homes by CAS.
Wotton said it broke her heart to learn that sometimes, kids leave an already traumatic situation with all of their belongings stuffed into a black plastic bag.
"Everything is taken away from them, and then just to have some safe place — something that is their own — instead of a black plastic bag," she said.
"I think they're going to have comfort [from the suitcases]," Wotton continued. "They're so ... distraught because they're taken away from the home, and it's always sudden."
Wotton said each suitcase given to a child will contain a stuffed animal, a throw blanket and a special note.
"They're going to have some things [in the suitcase] that are new and give them comfort. I just hope that it makes them smile," she said.
So far, Wotton said her Facebook campaign has collected close to 30 suitcases, and the Children's Aid Society has offered to make sure they reach kids in need.
People who are interested in donating a suitcase, blanket or stuffed toy can drop items off Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. at the Better Beginnings, Better Futures parking lot on Morin Street in Greater Sudbury.
With files from Angela Gemmill. Edited/packaged by Casey Stranges