On April 1, 2014, a month long drive for the collection of items for youth in foster care kicked off in tribute of April’s Child Abuse Prevention month.
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, along with representatives from Mission West Virginia, Inc., and Concord University students and faculty gathered on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center to initiate the drive. Items will be collected for the Carry  On Campaign, a state-wide initiative to provide luggage for youth in foster care.
Collection boxes will be set up in the lobby of the Center and area residents are encouraged to drop off donations throughout the month. Needed care items for the bags include: toothbrushes and paste; flip flops; small new stuffed animals; journals; school supplies; coloring books; crayons; flashlights; pillow cases and toiletries.
All items collected will be distributed to foster care agencies and DHHR county offices in the southern region of West Virginia. There are approximately 4,000 children in West Virginia’s foster care system who, when they are displaced, often have to carry their belongings in trash bags.
The Carry On Campaign began in October 2010 as a collaborative, multi-agency partnership that includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Mission West Virginia, Inc. and the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute.
To donate new or gently used luggage please contact Mission West Virginia at 866-CALL-MWV. For more information about this drive, contact Lori Pace by emailing lpace@concord.eduor calling 304-763-5396.
