Marist High School Student Collecting Luggage To Help Foster Kids Move With Dignity

BEVERLY — Eagle Scout candidate and Beverly resident Grayson Herr is organizing a community-wide luggage drive so foster children can navigate difficult transitions between homes with respect. 

Herr hopes that donors can ultimately provide Lutheran Child and Family Services in Joliet with 200 suitcases. People can donate luggage through Sunday at Christ the King Parish, 9235 S. Hamilton Ave. Organizers have collected more than 150 bags so far, Herr said.

The bags and suitcases will eventually be provided to foster children, who will be able to use them when transitioning between homes. Herr, a Marist High School senior and Christ the King parishioner, was inspired to start the drive when he read an article about foster children while brainstorming ideas for his Eagle Scout project.

“Often, when foster children are taken from their homes, they are just given a garbage bag or a box to put all of their stuff in,” Herr said. 

Foster children moving between homes with garbage bags didn’t sit right with Herr.

“When you give kids garbage bags and a box to put all their stuff in, and they have to leave everything they know, you are literally giving them a garbage bag,” Herr said. “I think you are kind of telling them, ‘You are not worth anything. You are worth this trash bag. That is your entire life.’”

Herr hopes using the donated luggage can provide foster children with dignity.

Many parishioners at church have rallied behind that goal, Herr said.

“People don’t actually realize this is a problem,” Herr said. “That is one of the things that people kept saying when they came up to me in the back of church.

“Obviously, once you know something is a problem, you want to help.”

Herr’s drive is collecting new or gently used roller bags, carry-on luggage, suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks and other travel bags. Donations can be dropped off at the back of the church after Mass this weekend or at the parish rectory.  

A member of Troop 608 out of St. Paul Bible Church, Herr has been involved with Boy Scouts for five years. His years with the scouts have left a positive impact, even if he wouldn’t describe himself as an outdoors person. 

“Camping and going out hiking and doing these things has made me tougher as a person, because I am willing to do these things. I am willing to be uncomfortable and have fun in the process,” Herr said. 

With over 16 locations throughout Illinois, Lutheran Child and Family Services serves thousands of foster children statewide. The nonprofit offers a variety of programs, including foster care, adoption, counseling, preventative services and a youth emergency shelter.