What Are Bags for Belonging
Katelyn Hall • July 15, 2025
Why Belonging matters: It isn't just a feeling — it’s a foundation.
When a child feels safe, seen, and supported, their healing can begin. They begin to build trust, form healthy relationships, and envision a hopeful future. As foster care providers, we strive every day to create that foundation of love and stability. But we can’t do it alone. That’s where our community comes in.
Introducing: Bags for Belonging
One of the ways we affirm a child’s worth from the very beginning is through our Bags for Belonging program. Every child who enters foster care through Seven Homes receives a brand-new backpack or diaper bag filled with essentials and comfort items, carefully curated with their needs and hearts in mind.
Each bag contains:
- A soft blanket
- A cuddly stuffed animal
- Sensory toys for emotional regulation
- Age-appropriate hygiene items (like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant)
- School supplies for older children
- A children’s Bible as a message of hope and identity
These bags aren’t just filled with items — they’re filled with dignity. They're a simple but profound way of saying, YOU matter. YOU are not forgotten. YOU belong.
How You Can Help
You can be part of this message of belonging in a very tangible way. Here’s how:
1. Donate New Items
- We’re always in need of new:
- Backpacks and diaper bags
- Blankets and stuffed animals
- Hygiene Items
- Sensory toys and stress-relief tools
- Crayola Colored Pencils, Crayons & Markers
- Coloring Books & Small Toys
- Baby Bottles, Pacifiers & baby nail clippers
- Diapers & Wipes
- Hair Brushes & Combs
- Children’s and teen Bibles
All items must be new. Visit our AMAZON WISHLIST
to see our current needs and send items directly to us.
2. Host a Donation Drive
- Church groups, workplaces, youth ministries, book clubs — anyone can host a donation drive! It’s a great way to engage your community and help spread awareness about the needs of children in foster care.
3. Sponsor a Bag
- Want to make an impact but don’t have time to shop? You can still be a vital part of this effort by making a monetary donation. With a gift of approximately $75, you can sponsor a fully stocked bag. We’ll take care of purchasing and assembling the items — your generosity will go directly toward bringing comfort and hope to a child in need.
Be Part of the Story
Every backpack packed, every blanket folded, every Bible placed in a child’s hand is a step toward healing. When you support Bags for Belonging, you’re doing more than giving items — you’re planting seeds of worth and belonging in the hearts of children who need it most.
Because in our community — in your community — every child deserves to know:
YOU are seen. YOU are valued. YOU belong.
At Seven Homes, we hold a deeply rooted belief: every child deserves a home where they feel they truly belong. When a child experiences that kind of belonging, it doesn’t just change their life, it creates a ripple effect that touches families, communities, and generations to come. That’s the heart of what we do. By equipping families with the support they need and surrounding children with care, we are helping break cycles of trauma and building something stronger, TOGETHER. Because healing happens in relationships, and strong communities help create strong families. Why Foster Care Awareness Matters: Every day across North Carolina, children enter foster care, each one carrying a story, a need, and a deep longing for stability and connection. Yet many people in our communities simply don’t know how they can help. Maybe they’ve thought about fostering but feel unsure. Maybe they want to support but don’t know where to begin. Maybe they’ve never heard what the journey truly looks like. That’s where awareness becomes powerful. A Special Opportunity: National Foster Care Awareness Month: May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. This is a meaningful time set aside to shine a light on the needs of children in foster care and the families who support them. It’s also the perfect opportunity to start a conversation in your community. If your church, small group, or organization has ever considered learning more about foster care, this is a natural moment to lean in. Our team would love to partner with you during this month to share, connect, and help your community discover how they can make a difference. Bringing the Conversation to Your Community: What if awareness didn’t feel overwhelming… but personal? The Seven Homes Team is passionate about meeting people right where they are, whether that’s a church gathering, a small group, or a local organization. We create space for honest conversation, meaningful connection, and real next steps. Because sometimes, all it takes is one conversation to spark a calling. What We Can Share With Your Group: When you invite Seven Homes to speak, you’re offering your community more than information, you’re offering perspective, purpose, and possibility. Here’s what that can look like: The Foster Care Journey A compassionate look at what children and families experience—and where hope begins. The Role of Foster Parent The joys, the challenges, and the life-changing impact of opening your home. Ways to Get Involved From fostering and adopting to volunteering, supporting families, or partnering through sponsorships. The Need in Our Community Why your group’s awareness and action truly matter—right here, right now. Let’s Partner Together: We believe no one is meant to walk this journey alone, not children, not families, and not communities. No matter who you are, we would be honored to come alongside you. Especially during National Foster Care Awareness Month, there is a unique opportunity to engage your community in a conversation that truly matters. Take the Next Step: If you’d like to schedule a speaker from Seven Homes, we invite you to reach out to our team. Together, we can ensure that every child has a safe place to BELONG
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