As the sibling of children who endured the foster care system—I’ve seen, up close, the silent wounds left by something as simple as a trash bag.

For at least 6 decades, children in foster care have been handed trash bags to carry their belongings when removed from their homes or moved between placements. Imagine being torn from everything you know and then being told—without words—that your life fits inside a garbage bag. This practice is more than thoughtless; it’s dehumanizing. It strips children of their dignity during one of the most traumatic moments of their lives.

Today, over 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system. Each one deserves better.

We’ve provided thousands of high-quality bags to youth in care—but this systemic issue can’t be solved by one, two, or three nonprofits alone. It’s time for national action.

We’re calling on state and federal lawmakers to end this practice once and for all by passing legislation that guarantees every foster child is given proper, dignified luggage—never again a trash bag.

Sixty years is too long for this injustice to continue. We must change this by 2030 - in 47 states! Only Texas, Oregon, NY, and Maryland have state laws.

This is about more than a bag. It’s about self-worth. It’s about dignity. It’s about sending a message to every foster child that they matter.

Please, sign this petition. Help us replace trash bags with dignity—and rewrite the beginning of each foster child’s story.