• 30°
franklin county times

Club Chronicles: Book Lovers Study Club encourages suitcase donations to DHR

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to start thinking about cleaning out the closets and getting rid of things you don’t need.

If you are getting rid of any kind of luggage, clean it up and drop it off at your local foster care agency.

The youth in foster care are often required to pack and carry their personal belongings in garbage bags when navigating through the foster care system. Your donation can change that.

Entering the foster care system can be an extremely traumatic experience for a young child or teen. In addition to being removed from their biological parents or family, they’re often required to quickly pack their personal belongings in one or two trash bags. It’s important to maintain a child’s sense of dignity and self-worth and also provide them with a reliable form of transportation for their items.

Changing from a trash bag to a suitcase can help improve the self-esteem of the children.

Social services do not have the financial means to purchase suitcases or duffel bags to pack a child’s meager belongings before being brought to a foster home. If they do not have any donated duffel bags/suitcases, social services must use trash bags.

It is horrific enough that a child has been abused or neglected, but then to have all of his or her belongings placed into trash bags places a feeling of worthlessness on the child.

Here are tips for donating luggage:

  • Clean your suitcase before donating.
  • Make sure to empty out any personal items from all compartments.
  • Place clothes or blankets you’d also like to donate inside the suitcase.
  • Pack it with a few overnight essentials like toothpaste, a toothbrush and a teddy bear.

As a project, GFWC Book Lovers Study Club members have selected to support the local Franklin County DHR’s needs for suitcases for foster children.

Passing your suitcases on to a needy foster child can help change their world. Just leave the luggage at the door of the DHR building, located at 737 County Road 48 at the old coliseum and fairgrounds location.

This donation will help a child and is a way to recycle instead of adding to the landfills.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

Franklin County

RCS holds annual Black History Month program 

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: American Legion Posts 64 and 120 – ‘Veterans Strengthening America’

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss Northwest Shoals

Franklin County

RHS graduate crowned Miss UNA

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: In memoriam – Monuments honor the fallen of Franklin

High School Sports

RHS senior chosen as Bryant-Jordan Region 8 Scholar winner

High School Sports

Russellville High School ladies soccer team members participate in annual Night to Shine

x