Make a Bag Party to benefit foster children

ALBANY — An Albany woman is searching for commitments for an effort designed to make things easier for foster children who are changing homes.

Kaley Hart, who last summer spearheaded a selfie photo challenge to help raise money for local charities and nonprofits, says she is hoping to get more people to commit to a Make a Bag Party scheduled for 4 p.m. April 18 at Christ United Methodist Church, 505 Byron Plantation Road in Albany.

Hart said she has been doing volunteer work with Necco, a youth and families social services program, and became aware of the situation that many foster children find themselves in when they’re moving into a new foster residence. Often, the child’s possessions are contained in large plastic bags for the move.

“What this does is it provides duffle bags for them,” Hart said. “It makes it a little better for them when they move.”

The bags and the contents come from www.togetherwerise.org. Party participants each pay $30 to cover the cost of a bag and its contents, which are shipped separately. At the party, participants stuff the bags and personalize them for the recipients.

Hart said some of the items that will be placed in the bags are a hygiene kit, a warm blanket, a stuffed animal and a coloring book with crayons.

She said she needs at least 10 firm commitments to place the order with the organization, but she’s hoping many more than that will participate. “I’m just trying to get people to be aware of it,” she said.

Anyone who wants to help but who can’t attend can contribute the cost of a bag and those who attend the event will stuff the bags, she said.

To sign up for the party or to sponsor a bag for a foster child, contact Hart at [email protected] or visit her Facebbok page, www.facebook.com/pages/Albany-volunteer-and-community-events.