No child should ever have to move using a garbage bag for their belongings. That from the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association, which provides luggage for children in foster care through the Ministry of Social Services.

There is a social media post going through the rounds which suggests taking your old luggage to a local foster care agency so they don’t have to transport their belongings from place to place in a garbage bag. Deb Davies says the SFFA used to work with service groups to collect luggage and bags for children, and then about 8 years ago after conversations with the Ministry of Social Services, it was decided that the Ministry would buy the suitcases and have them on hand when children needed them.

Davies says they are proud that they now have that option and it’s clearly stated in their policies that luggage will be provided for every child that comes into care.

Another piece of good news from the SFFA is that after a few years of experiencing a shortage of foster parents, in the last 4 or 5 years, the Association has been successful in recruiting families, although Davies says they could always use more. There is always a need.