What Would You Take?
Imagine someone told you that you had just five minutes to leave your home, and you didn’t know if you would ever come back.
What would you take?
Most of us would instinctively reach for a few treasured belongings: a favorite sweatshirt, family photos, a beloved stuffed animal, or even something as simple as a toothbrush. These items provide comfort, familiarity, and a sense of security during uncertain times.
Now imagine you’re only six years old.
Every day, children are rescued from abusive, neglectful, or unsafe homes with little or no warning. Many enter foster care, emergency shelters, or crisis services carrying nothing at all. They don’t have time to gather the things that make them feel safe. In many cases, they leave with only the clothes they are wearing. That’s where My Stuff Bags Foundation steps in.
Each My Stuff Bag is thoughtfully filled with brand-new, age-appropriate essentials and comforting items including a soft blanket, cuddly stuffed animal, books, games, toiletries, clothing, and other childhood necessities. While these belongings cannot erase the trauma a child has experienced, they can provide comfort, dignity, and the reassuring message that someone cares.
“A young boy who had recently moved into our shelter received a My Stuff Bag. He slowly pulled out each item and carefully looked at everything inside. At one point he looked up and asked, ‘this is mine?’ We could tell he was surprised that the bag and everything in it belonged to him. He hugged the bag and carried it around for the rest of the day. It was clear it meant a lot to him having something that felt like his own.” – Shared by one of our Partner Agencies in our nationwide network
Together, we can ensure that when a child leaves everything behind, they don’t have to face an uncertain future empty-handed.
