Vallejoans moved to make a difference

Donated luggage ready for foster children

By ANDREA Wolf/Times-Herald staff writer

Article Launched: 10/28/2007 07:59:57 AM PDT

For Cynthia Grady, the hard part is over. Wanting to do something to help, she put the word out that she was collecting luggage for foster children to use when traveling from home to home.

Now, she has more than a hundred suitcases and duffel bags, and just needs children to give them to.

Local residents and businesses donated new and used luggage Saturday afternoon at the Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Vallejo.

Grady organized the Give a Child a Smile event in conjunction with Make a Difference Day, a national day of helping others.

Grady, founder of New Beginnings Supportive Services, a resource center for aged-out foster children, said children in foster care move frequently and often have nothing better than garbage bags to carry all their belongings in.

"My intent is for every foster kid to have their own luggage," Grady said. "It's not just for the kids coming into foster care, it is for all of them. You never know when they might have to move again."

In addition to individual donations, Grady said dozens of bags were donated by the San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency, St. Basil's and Good Samaritan Baptist Church.

Vallejo residents Marion and Jesse Cook dropped off several pieces of luggage Saturday.

"We just had extra bags in the house and thought we would come by to help out some kids," Marion Cook said.

Rodney Leggett, pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, said, while this is the first event the church has had to help foster children, he would like to support Grady and her efforts again in the future.

"I think it is just awesome what she is doing," Leggett said. "She has tremendous compassion for those in need, which is important in this community."

Leggett said he hopes to make his church a center for resources directing foster children where to go for help they need.

Grady said there has been a huge outpouring of support from local residents and businesses, for both the luggage drive and New Beginnings.

"The community here in Vallejo has been very forthcoming," Grady said. "I have gotten nothing but phone calls from people who want to help."

Grady said she would be happy to deliver luggage, food and hygiene products to foster children who are not able to come pick up the items themselves.

"If a kid doesn't have a car or a way to pick up these things, I will bring it to them," Grady said. "The important thing is that they get what they need."

After Tuesday, luggage will be available to be picked up at the Solano County Child Welfare Services office at 275 Beck Ave. in Fairfield.

Luggage can also be picked up at New Beginnings Supportive Services, at 124 Sperry Ave., Apt. B., in Vallejo.

For more information contact Cynthia Grady at 649-1937 or 655-6064 or visit www.newbeginnings101.org.

E-mail Andrea Wolf at awolf@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6835.