Members of GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club (Florida) formed a partnership with the Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation with the 20th Judicial Circuit Court to provide children entering the foster care system with a bit of comfort. Club President Kathryn Gallagher explained members hand-sewed bags and filled them with various items to be donated to the children in need. This project began as an idea in an email from the Child Advocate Manager Supervisor of the Charlotte County Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation but has come to fruition and will continue on a quarterly basis.

“The whole club is excited about this project,” Kathryn said, adding that it was originally postponed due to COVID-19, but the first set of bags has now been delivered to the children.

She said that clubwomen wanted to participate in this project because children entering the foster care system are often taken from their current environment with only a black trash bag to contain their limited possessions. Therefore, members felt it was important for these children to have something unique to them that they could be proud of carrying.

“It helps them to realize that they have value,” she said.

Although created as a Civic Engagement and Outreach Community Service Project, each committee in the club has participated in filling the bags by donating age-appropriate books, pajamas, toothbrushes and other personal hygiene items, hand-knitted and -crotched washcloths, comfort toys, and more, and by making handmade birthday cards.

Pictured above:  with members of GFWC RWWC are Foundation advocates Barbara Berman, who also serves as the Foundation Vice President, and Nancy Suarez.

 Update: The 2nd quarter bed bags were assembled by a volunteer group on July 21, 2022. All ready to go!