Hope in a Suitcase
Video credit: Shushan Minasian
Photo Credit: Milan Lay
By Daisy Vazquez
For our June Weekend Miracles event, we had a successful “shopping” day in Los Angeles, thanks to Hope in a Suitcase, who provided the kids with suitcases they could pack with free goodies! Before the kids began picking their things, getting into the activities, and interacting with the families, they feasted on some yummy tacos. After a hearty lunch, it was time to get into groups and begin the fun!
To kick things off, our partner for this event, Hope in a Suitcase, shared a few thoughtful words with the group:
“We are Hope in a Suitcase, and our mission is to help provide new items to kids transitioning out of foster care. It is really exciting for us to partner with Kidsave and do an event like this. We are happy to have you, and we hope you enjoy everything; we work really hard to ensure we only provide brand-new items, so you all get the freedom of choice today to pick out exactly what you want so please, pick out the sweatshirt you want, pick out the art supplies that you want, have fun, and have a great day. Thank you for coming.”
We had six stations with different activities and freebies for the kids to kickstart the games. At each station, the kids interacted with families who guided them through all the fun and helped them shop. During one of the activities, the kids and the families were asked to anonymously write down two secrets about themselves and drop them in a bucket. Each person got a turn to pull out one of the notes and guess whose secret they were reading. And, for their bravery, they were rewarded with a toy of their choosing before moving on to the next station!
Children could select books, clothes, backpacks, hygiene products, art supplies, blankets, and toys. It was a very eventful and sunny afternoon filled with joy and laughter. Toward the end of the event, the kids gathered and showed off their new things with smiles. And, of course, we couldn’t end our monthly event without celebrating kids’ birthdays!
About Weekend Miracles
There are many wonderful kids in our Weekend Miracles program in need of a mentor, host, or adoptive family. These older kids in foster care are growing up without the stability and love that all kids need to thrive. If you’re interested in adopting or hosting an older child, please contact us. We’re happy to answer any questions and help you get started. Email us at weekendmiracles@kidsave.org to learn more.
Kidsave’s Weekend Miracles program is currently only available for Los Angeles or Houston residents.
