SOUL Stand Up donates 40 suitcases for foster children

ROCKINGHAM — For the second year in a row, SOUL Stand Up partnered with the Richmond County Department of Social Services to provide suitcases for children in foster care.

This year, SOUL (which stands for Sisters of Unity and Love) Stand Up was able to gather 40 suitcases, topping last year’s total of 11.

“When [children are] placed into their [foster] homes, they were coming with trash bags,” said President Tonee Grant. “And so we decided that if we can, it’s already a disruption for them to be moved, at least they can pack their things into a suitcase as they transition from their home to the foster home.”

One of their members, Sheila Baker, is a foster parent who saw firsthand the need for suitcases for children who have to move on short-notice.

The suitcases were gathered during National Foster Care Month which is in May, but Financial Officer Debra Johnson said community members are encouraged to still donate any suitcases to DSS.

“The community can still participate,” Johnson said, adding that as she was lining up the suitcases outside of the DSS on Tuesday, an individual thanked her and said how much these suitcases are needed.

Johnson said that she wants to thank everyone in the community who donated a suitcase.

In August, SOUL Stand Up will be partnering with the Rockingham Housing Authority for a Back to School Bash event for the youth in Richmond County.