Precious Cargo: Collins & Lacy Calls on Community to Donate Items for Foster Children

[COLUMBIA, S.C. May 2017] – May is National Foster Care Month. To promote awareness, Collins & Lacy, P.C. is again teaming up with the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP), a provider of foster care and community-based services, to host a statewide item collection drive for the organization’s Precious Cargo Program.

The non-profit organization, is a child-placing and family serving entity that provides treatment, advocacy, and services to children and families dealing with serious emotional, behavioral, psychological, and/or development issues. Precious Cargo is a program developed by SCYAP to provide stuffed duffle bags to foster children the day they enter the organization’s care. The duffle bags contain new basic toiletries, school supplies, and comfort items such as a stuffed animal and blanket. The bags are prepared for specific age groups and separated by male and female, so they are personalized for each child. This is an important gesture of caring and support for a vulnerable child at a traumatic time in their life.

During the month of May, Collins & Lacy will be accepting donations for Precious Cargo in the firm’s Columbia and Myrtle Beach offices. The community is asked to donate unused items to help fill the duffel bags, such as soap, toothbrushes, tissues, coloring books, and pencils. For a complete list of needed items, please see below. Monetary donations for the program can be made through SCYAP’s website at https://www.scyap.com/GetInvolved/MakeADonation.aspx.

All donations can be dropped off at the Collins & Lacy offices during the month of May, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Please visit the firm’s website at https://www.collinsandlacy.com/contact-us/ for office addresses and directions. For any questions, contact Collins & Lacy Marketing Director Janie Langdale at jlangdale@collinsandlacy.com.

“Last year was our first year to team up with SCYAP and host this collection, and through both employee and community donations, we were able to fill over 50 duffle bags and give a feeling of ‘home’ to these children,” said Christian Boesl, Collins & Lacy shareholder. “We were touched by the community’s response then and hope to make just as big of an impact this year.”

“SCYAP distributes over 500 Precious Cargo bags to foster children every year and it is a special moment for each child when they receive their bag,” said Gail Cole, Development Liaison with SCYAP. “The stuffed animal is immediately brought out for a hug and then the child usually asks if it is all really just for them. They cannot believe it, and often it is the first time we have seen them smile all day.”

To learn more about SCYAP and the Precious Cargo Program, visit https://www.scyap.com/Home.aspx.

PRECIOUS CARGO BAGS:
SCYAP will use the donated items to prepare completed duffel bags based on three age group categories: birth-2 years; 3-11 years; 12 years and up. The baby bags contain a baby blanket and items such as diaper cream and wipes. The bags for older children contain regular fleece blankets and a stuffed animal along with school supplies and toiletries.

The following (unused) items are needed. Thank you!

Toiletry & Comfort Items
Shampoo
Conditioner
Soap
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Dental Floss
Kleenex
Bibs
Teethers
Baby Washcloth
Baby Blanket
Baby Wash
Baby Lotion
Diaper Cream
Wipes
Baby Story Books
Special Blanket
Stuffed Animal

School Supplies 
Crayons/Coloring Book
Washable Markers
Glue Sticks
Pencils- all school ages
Composition Books
Notebook Paper
Dictionary
Calculator
Blue or Black Pens
2 Pocket Folders
Zipper Pencil Holder
Highlighters