Urbandale Students Fill Backpacks For Children In Foster Care

URBANDALE, IA — The newly formed Hope In Action program through Urbandale High School is back with another helping hand before the holidays. The student-led organization collected and assembled backpacks for children being transitioned into foster care.

The group's mission is to spread hope in the community through action. Organizers learned that often times, children entering a foster home do not get to take their own possessions, and they responded by putting their compassion into action.

“Lifting up those who have less than you do can bring more joy than any good grade or physical object ever could,” junior Claire Kaiser said in a story on the district's website. “These backpacks may seem insignificant to some, but to children who have very little, the backpacks can be a symbol of hope to them.”

Students filled the backpacks with age-appropriate and gender-specific items and donated everything to the Star Clinic at Blank Children's Hospital.

Photo: Claire Kaisler and Bailey Lamm show some of the backpacks the Hope In Action group filled and donated for children making the transition to foster care. (Photo via Urbandale school district)