Several times throughout the year, the Fort Worth Moms Blog shines a spotlight on non-profits throughout Tarrant County that impact the lives of local mothers and/or children. It is our hope that these posts become less of an informational, educational piece and more of a motivator and mobilizer for action. Below you will find immediate, short-term action steps you can take to impact this non-profit in positive ways. Let’s walk our talk and truly make Tarrant County an even better place to call home!
Here’s the Scoop
Have you ever heard of Packs With Purpose? It is fairly new, so odds are you haven’t, but that’s okay! Packs With Purpose comes from the generous hearts and minds of Miranda Baker and Julie Smith.
Both foster moms, they recognized that almost all children in foster care enter the system with not much more than the clothes on their backs. Those that are allowed to bring some of their things with them are usually just handed a trash bag and given no more than a few minutes to grab the things they hold dear.
Packs With Purpose aims to give each child a backpack filled with necessities to both alleviate a foster parent’s mad dash to the closest 24-hour store when their new foster child shows up with nothing, but first and foremost to let each child know that someone, somewhere, cares about them and wants them to be well taken care of. No child should believe that their possessions belong in a trash bag.
Here’s How We Help
The focus of this article is to provide ways you can help in the short-term. Of course, there are other ways to support this program in the long term — like contacting and volunteering with Packs With Purpose, advocating for foster kids, and so forth.
So, how can you help right now?
Pack a bag. The goal of this organization is to give backpacks filled with necessities, so the best thing you could do is pack a bag! Lots of families like to pack a bag or two together. If this is something you and your family would like to do together, a bag for a child infant – 2 years old could include:
- One new outfit
- Pajamas
- Size appropriate diapers
- Baby wipes
- Two pairs of socks
- One comfort item (blanket, stuffed animal, or small toy)
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Teething item
- Baby shampoo (12 oz or smaller)
Because Packs With Purpose wants each child to feel special, they also have different pack lists for children ages three to 10, and 11 to 17 that can be found here. You can also choose to personalize the packs based on gender. The packs can be mailed to the address below.
Donate. Everything takes money, especially newer startups. Packs With Purpose has set up a GoFundMe page, where they hope to raise $10,000 by December 31, 2017. You can also mail any monetary donations to: 910 S. Crowley Rd Ste. 9 Box #420, Crowley, Texas 76036.
Packs with Purpose is a local 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization that provides backpacks filled with basic necessities and other goodies to foster children in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Packs With Purpose is part of the Fort Worth Moms Blog’s “FWMB Gives Back” series. If you are interested in nominating a local non-profit, please email [email protected].
