Something often overlooked is how families experiencing homelessness secure their belongings, especially when they move from one place to another. We at Families Forward can tell you firsthand, that more often than not, when families arrive at our emergency shelter, parents and children are carrying all of their possessions in trash bags. The same is true when they pack up and leave our shelter for more permanent housing.

Let that visual sink in . . . trash bags carrying cherished personal belongings.

Yes, the same trash bags you use to literally take out your garbage each week.

Let’s change that together!

Families Forward kindly invites you—our generous community—to “Share Luggage with Love” by donating new and used pieces of luggage and duffel bags so we can embrace our families with the level of hospitality and care they deserve in their time of need and beyond.

Because let’s face it . . . our families’ belongings aren’t trash so they shouldn’t be treated as such.

And do you know what would make your luggage donation even more meaningful?

A note of encouragement!

Please keep your sentiments short and general but positive and encouraging—let our families know that you care and that you’re invested in their happiness and success.

Consider donating a welcome mat!

We’ve created a new initiative to gift families a welcome mat when they move out of shelter into more permanent housing. Hospitality and kindness remain at the heart of our mission, and you can advance this mission by helping our families create a home out of their new housing.