By Rhys Baker

In 2023, nearly 6,000 Kansas youth are in foster care according to the Kansas Department of Children and Families. In Cloud, Clay, Washington, and Republic Counties, 23 children were removed from their homes in an emergent situation between July 2023 and June 2024. These disturbing numbers in our community have prompted the Clay Counts Coalition to help by purchasing 24 backpacks. These backpacks won’t be used to carry school supplies, laptops, or even sports equipment. This backpack project is to help those children in need of emergency foster care.

Clay Counts Coalition Coordinator Lori Martin says “A lot of these kiddos that are living in drug endangered settings oftentimes are the greatest victims, because when their parents are arrested, the kids are taken out of homes, and taken to the police station, as if they’ve committed a crime and wait until someone in their family or the emergency foster care system can come and find them a safe place to be.” Coordinator Martin points out that packing a suitcase is sometimes an impossible task, as children have no advanced notice, and due to their safety, are removed from the home immediately with no chance to gather belongings. 

Each backpack includes a list of needs for both boys and girls, from birth to age 12. The items needed to fill the backpacks are not expensive, Martin included examples such as, “Toothbrushes, clean underwear, sweatsuits, flip flops or Crocs, and even stuffed animals to help comfort a child.”. The backpacks are stored in Clay County but are available to police and emergency personnel on a 24/7 basis. Today, 19 backpacks are filled, but as kids grow and develop, and the needs of the community change, Martin says more backpacks will need to be filled, “While the backpacks are not needed daily, when needed, are emergent.” Martin asks, “Can you imagine being removed from your home, losing your belongings, or handed a trash bag of your belongings?”