‘ S u i t c a s e s F o r K i d s’ By JENNIFER KIZIAH Record Staff Writer Hickory Daily Record March 21, 1996 Last November, 12-year-old Aubyn Burnside, a sixth- grade homeschool student, had an idea for an ongoing community service project - collecting suitcases for foster children. Aubyn got the idea from her sister, Leslie Burnside. According to Aubyn, “She (Leslie) kept asking for suit- cases.” Leslie Burnside, Performance Outcomes coordinator for Catawba County Department of Social Services´ Families for Kids initiative, knew of the need for foster children to have something in which to carry their be- |
 In Back, L-R Participants Charles Meadows, Isaac Meadows, Aubyn Burnside, Chris Young and Welland Burnside Sits Among Suitcases Collected For Area Children In Foster Care |
| Sixth-Grader Starts Project ´From Page 1A |
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| longings. According to Ms. Burnside, “When we remove kids from a home, we use what's handy...garbage bags. It sends a message that we don't value their things.&rldquo; Ms. Burnside said there is no fund- ing to buy the children suitcases. DSS only removes children from a home when they are in imminent danger, Ms. Burnside said. Often, social workers have no time to search for a suitcase the family may not own. Ms. Burnside spoke of one social worker who removed three children from a home and had to put their be- longings in torn paper bags. “A lot of kids already in foster care who move don't have anything to put their stuff in either,” Ms. Burnside said. “(When we give them a suitcase) it's a little more respect- ful for the kids.” After Aubyn heard Ms. Burnside asking her family for suitcases on several occasions, she decided to go out and find her sister the suitcases she wanted As president of Sunny 4-H Club, vice president of Blue Skies 4-H Club, secretary of Discovery 4-H Club, and member of Junior Girl Scout Troop 211, Aubyn had lots of contacts. She waited until after Christmas to really get started on the &ldquo ;Suit- cases for Kids” project. “I was thinking maybe people would get new luggage for Christmas and want to get rid of their old suitcases,” she said. According to Aubyn, she was told that Catawba County needed 200 suitcases. “We've collected 171 so |
far (since January),” she said, As the project grew, so did the number of people helping. Aubyn founder and chairwoman for the drive, recruited several of her fellow 4-H'ers to help. Chris Young 15, of Sardis 4-H, be- came co-chairman for “Suitcases for Kids.” “Hopefully we can get lots more,” he said. “I've got lots of people call- ing me.” Charles Meadows, 14, and Isaac Meadows, 11, were also recruited. Members of the Blue Skies 4-H club, the brothers became the Caldwell County co-chairmen. “It's a lot of hard work hauling those suitcases,” Isaac said. “There's a lot of hazards working with suit- cases. We found a kitchen knife in one. And, when we were hauling them (in a truck), they would slide and bang into us.” Charles said he and his brother be- came involved after speaking to Aubyn about it “We thought it was a good cause and wanted to help,” he said. Eight-year-old Welland Burnside, Aubyn?s younger brother, was named Junior chairman. According to Welland, “I've been riding and picking up the suitcases. I think it's hard work and a good project to do because it's good to help other people.” So far, Catawba and Caldwell county 4-H'ers are the only partici- pants. But, the members of the “Suit- cases for Kids” project do not plan to stop at two counties: They plan to take it statewide. |
From the beginning, Aubyn has spoken at her church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory, and to other area churches about the need for suitcases. She also put up posters at libraries, grocery stores and com- munity buildings. As a result, she has been nomi- nated to the National Geographic Kids' Hall of Fame. The award rec- ognizes excellence in a sustained cause that benefits others in the community, state and world. Aubyn plans to start a statewide network to collect suitcases for fos- ter children in North Carolina by in- volving 4-H'ers in other counties. According to Leslie Burnside, DSS will immediately begin using the suitcases the 4-H'ers have collected. “We try to get the kids to take toys, stuffed animals, photos, blankets... and that will be good for them to know that they're safe in one place,” she said. Ms. Burnside said the next group of suitcases collected for foster chil- dren will go to Caldwell and Burke counties. “It's just been great,” she said. “Kids helping kids. I've had very little involvement. They made it happen.” The 4-H?'rs are still actively col- lecting hard or soft suitcases. Any- one interested in donating suitcases or large duffels may call Aubyn in Hickory at (704) 328-3645 or Chris in Mountain View at 462-1028. In Caldwell County, call the Meadows at 396-3898. |