In the Law Office of Laurie Mize Henderson, an entire room has been dedicated to storing suitcases. The room is almost half-full of suitcases, ranging in size and color. These pieces of luggage will be given to children when they are admitted into foster care. 

Read about the inspiration behind the drive, here.

Laurie Mize Henderson, an attorney specializing in family cases, has teamed up with other local attorneys to host a suitcase drive benefiting foster children in St. Clair County. The idea of providing the children with a suitcase came from years of the organizer’s witnessing children being removed from their homes and having to put their belongings in plastic bags.

The organizers believe that being taken from their homes is traumatizing enough for the children, and packing their things in a garbage bag adds a feeling of worthlessness to their situation.

The goal for the suitcase drive has an initial goal of collecting 99 pieces of luggage. However, that is just to meet the current needs throughout the county. This is something that is an ongoing project.

“Ideally, we want to have this room constantly being filled with suitcases,” Henderson said. “It’s a need that will always be there, all we can do is help as much as we can.”

There are approximately 100 children in foster care in St. Clair County, with almost half of those living in, or originating from, Pell City. The end goal, of a project that will never truly end, is to always be able to provide a suitcase to every child that is placed in foster care.

“It’s a big need for these kids, and it’s a continuing need for them,” Jennifer Sellers, Bar Association President, said. “But we want to get to the point where we can give each child a suitcase of their own.”

So far, there are 29 suitcases in the designated collection room. This does not include cash donations and pledges that organizations and individuals have made. All of the donations have been made in the past three weeks. A Facebook page has been set up, which updates the public on the progression of the drive and has contact information if anyone has questions about making a donation. That can be found here.

This suitcase drive gives the community the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a foster child. Full-size suitcases, new with tags, are being requested, preferably hard shell. Those can be dropped off at the Law Office of Laurie Mize Henderson, P.C. and Law Office of Renay Bertella, located at 1906 Cogswell Avenue, Pell City.