No child should have to carry his or her belongings in a trash bag. A personalized suitcase or duffel bag, along with basic essentials and comfort items, sends children entering foster care a message that they are important and cared for by their community.

We have chosen to support Hope In A Suitcase this time because it?s near and dear to Harry Bosch?s heart. As you probably know, Harry was orphaned at age 11 and spent the next several years in youth halls and foster homes. Many times he could have used a suitcase full of clothes and other things he needed. In my latest novel, The Hollow, he gets to make a sizable donation to a non-profit organization and he chooses Hope In A Suitcase. So did we. Thank you for supporting such an important endeavor.

The Hieronymus Foundation will match the first $25,000 raised.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest child welfare system in the nation. Children who have experienced violence or neglect often enter the foster care system with nothing but the clothes on their backs or carrying a few personal belongings in a plastic trash bag.

Hope in a Suitcase is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit group benefiting system-impacted youth. Our mission is simple. They provide system-impacted children and teens with a suitcase, along with NEW basic essentials and comfort items, to make their transition and their circumstances just a little bit easier and more dignified. 

Their three core services include:

1. Preparing and Delivering Duffles and Suitcases: Fully-packed and personalized size, age and gender specific bags are delivered to their Foster Family Agency partners upon request as they place individual children with a loving foster family.
2. Hosting ?Shopping? Opportunities: They invite social workers and CASAs to pull items from their Hope Boutique for children in urgent need, and to refer highest need tweens and teens with active DCFS cases to free-of-charge Shopping Days at their headquarters.
3. Stocking Emergency Closets: They stock the on-site closets at entry-point emergency response facilities so staff can focus on comforting and settling newly arrived children rather than scrambling for basic clothing essentials and comfort items.

For children entering emergency foster care, transitioning between homes or starting a new school, having stuff of their own helps them feel like they belong. Hope In A Suitcase's ultimate goals include: Increasing willingness to attend school and confidence about making friends; reducing anxiety, the likelihood of bullying and barriers to participating in sports, special events and milestone events; supporting mental health and a sense of belonging; and showing youth as they try to rebuild their lives that they are worthy of respect.

Hope in a Suitcase fully outfits over 3,000 foster kids every year, providing them with a suitcase full of comfort and essentials to help ease the transition. Click here to learn more about Hope In A Suitcase and their services.