Administrative employees of Polk County Schools recently raised money to purchase suitcases for Polk foster children.

The employees raised more than $500 to purchase 21 suitcases through togetherwerise.org.

The project was organized by employees Xan Morse and Rachel Haynes-Wood. Haynes-Wood said the idea began after Morse spoke with Polk County Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Jennifer Pittman about needs for Polk County foster children.

Haynes-Wood said the thought behind raising money for suitcases is that children taken into state custody often have to place their belongings in a trash bag.

“If you are a foster child, you could have to come out of your house in the middle of the night,” Haynes-Wood said. “It would be nice if they are able to put some of their belongings in a nice bag.”

The school employees not only raised most of the money, along with the community, but decorated the suitcases themselves.

Employees donated the decorated suitcases to DSS last week.

The suitcases, referred to as “sweet cases,” were packed with a stuffed animal, crayons, art supplies, a toothbrush, toothpaste and coloring books.

The foster child gets to keep the bag given to them by DSS when they are taken into custody.

Haynes-Wood encourages anyone in the community to begin a campaign to raise money for suitcases.

According to the Together We Rise website, 1,200 children enter the foster care system every day in the United States. The website also states the organization is “a non-profit that changes the way they experience the system.”

Polk County normally has more than 40 foster care children at a time in DSS custody with only eight certified foster care homes in the county currently.

DSS is seeking more foster parents and is conducting a campaign offering presentations to any church or organization interested. Contact Pittman at DSS by calling 828-894-6621 for more information on foster care in Polk County.

For more information on raising money for foster care sweet cases, visit togetherwerise.org.