HILLSBORO, Ohio — The Highland County Victim Witness office is collecting new duffle bags, hygiene items and comfort supplies this month for children removed from their homes by Children Protective Services, along with care-pack items for the caseworkers who serve them.
The 3rd Annual Foster Care Duffle Bag Drive runs through Sept. 30, with donations accepted at the Victim Witness office in Hillsboro or at any Highland County public library branch, according to a Facebook event announcement shared by the Greenfield Police Department. Donors can also purchase items directly through an Amazon wish list linked in the announcement.
The drive replaces a common, painful image in the foster care system: children arriving at a new placement with their few belongings stuffed into a garbage bag. Duffle bag donation programs, run by child welfare offices and nonprofits across the country, aim to give kids something sturdier and more dignified to carry their things in during one of the most disruptive moments of their lives.
Requested items for children include duffle bags, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, deodorant, combs and brushes, blankets, stuffed animals, fidget toys, cologne or perfume, and feminine hygiene products. The Victim Witness office said boys’ items are especially needed this year, though girls’ items are always welcome, and a mix of colors, styles and scents helps ensure every child served has a choice.
The office is also collecting supplies for the caseworkers who handle these placements, including Q-tips, vapor rub, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, trash bags, dog treats, and gift cards to McDonald’s or Walmart. All donated items must be new and unopened.
The Highland County Victim Witness office is a division of the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office that assists victims and witnesses of crime as their cases move through the court system, including accompanying them to court and helping them apply for financial assistance.
The information contained in this story was obtained from a Highland County Victim Witness event announcement shared by the Greenfield Police Department.
