The Pell City Youth Cheer Association just completed their summer cheer camp last week. Amid the smiles and hands on hips, these girls wanted to give back to their community.

The Pell City Youth Cheer Board voted to donate to “Lighten the Load,” a local non-profit organization that collects rolling luggage for St. Clair County foster children.

They donated six pieces of luggage, bringing the total donated to 204 so far.

“Over 150 kids in foster care have received luggage,” said Laurie Mize Henderson. “Our intent is to give a suitcase to each child currently in foster care and then to each child that is brought into care in the future.”

At any given time, there are approximately 99 children in foster care in St. Clair County and there are approximately 3,500 children in foster care throughout Alabama, according to the Alabama Children’s Policy Council.

“Plastic garbage bags are what they (children) have to put their belongings in,” Laurie Mize Henderson, Juvenile Dependency (Family Court) attorney said. “When you have to carry your life in a garbage bag, it sends a terrible message to the child that they deserve no better. To be blunt, it is demeaning and humiliating.” 

The project was conceived and designed by Juvenile Dependency (Family Court) attorneys Laurie Mize Henderson and Jennifer Sellers to provide each foster child in St. Clair County with a brand new, large, hard-sided, rolling piece of luggage that the children can call their own and protect what few possessions they have during their time in foster care.

New, large, hard-sided, rolling suitcases can be donated at Laurie Mize Henderson’s office at 1906 Cogswell Avenue, Pell City or at Jennifer Seller’s office located at 1918 Cogswell Avenue, Pell City.

The next fundraising project will be a Crossfit Team Challenge with Crossfit Pell City on Saturday, September 8. With each team registration, a physical suitcase will be purchased to donate.

They hope to raise awareness and funds for foster children transitioning to new homes.

“About two years ago the ‘Lighten the Load Campaign’ began which raises money to buy foster kids suitcases when they come in to foster care. Through this, they feel like they have something they can call their own,” said Laurie Mize Henderson. “We initially raised through the community 175 suitcases for kids. Now we are down to about 10 suitcases, but more kids are coming into foster care each month. Hopefully with enough turn out, we can replenish that number as high as possible.” 

They are also looking to raise community interest to get people to sign up to be foster parents in St. Clair County.

For more information about how you can donate, be involved, or with suggestions contact 205-338-0061 or 334-437-0303.