The St. Ambrose Youth Group recently collected nearly 300 suitcases, some shown here, to be distributed to children in the Catholic Charities’ foster care program

GODFREY - The St. Ambrose Youth Group recently conducted a suitcase drive to benefit children in foster care with Madison County Catholic Charities. The idea for the drive originated from a radio talk-show at WBGZ radio station in Alton regarding the statewide "Foster Kids Are Our Kids" campaign, a public service campaign to educate the general population about the rewards and challenges of foster care.

Recognizing that being a foster parent is a calling that isn't for everyone, Catholic Charities foster home licensing representative Carolyn Yinger suggested that donating a suitcase is one way to help foster children. In most instances, children come into foster care with only a few belongings, often transported in trash bags.

Yinger says having to carry all they own in a trash bag inadvertently sends foster children the message that they (and their belongings) are merely trash. She says the simple gift of a suitcase sends the exact opposite message: "You are valuable, and so are your possessions." Having a suitcase helps provide foster children with a sense of dignity they richly deserve, but often don't find during their stay in foster care, she says.

WBGZ radio personality, Mark Hollibrook organized the drive, which brought in nearly 300 suitcases to be distributed to area foster children.

From three branch offices in the Springfield diocese (Alton, Effingham and Springfield), Catholic Charities provides foster care services to over 200 children. Others who would like to donate a suitcase or simply learn more about how they can help children in foster care, can do so by contacting their local Catholic Charities Office or by visiting the agency's Web site at: www.cc.dio.org .