Brianna Swinderman is the daughter of a former Texas Child Protective Services worker. Many of her friends were in the foster care system or victims of domestic violence. Like most children in foster care, they moved around a lot and their belongings were often thrown into trash bags. “It unacceptable for innocent children to be treated like trash,” Brianna told me. “No one asks to be in foster care.” Brianna wanted to eliminate the negative message that foster kids are not equal to other kids. She wanted to provide hope to her friends all kids who found themselves in sad situations through no fault of their own. Brianna is well aware that most people don’t understand the effects of abuse until they experience it or someone close to them does. She didn’t let that stop her. She wanted society to notice them and help them. The Bags of Hope Project was born. Through Bags of Hope, suitcases and duffel bags are collected and distributed to children and teens that are in foster care and victims of domestic violence
Brianna’s Bags of Hope Project earned her the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. Girl Scouts’ highest honor. The Girl Scout Gold Award requires that a Girl Scout complete at least 80 hours of community service in a project approved by the Girl Scouts. Brianna wanted her project to inspire the community to take action and made a real difference.
Brianna has been a Girl Scout since the age of 5. She began her Gold Award project in tenth grade. After only four months Brianna surpassed her Girl Scout Gold Award target of collecting and distributing 1,000 duffel bags and luggage to children and teens that are in foster care or victims of domestic violence. Currently Brianna has collected over 2,315 pieces of luggage and the donations are still coming in. She has also received donations of toiletries and school supplies. Brianna has delivered in four cities in New Mexico but her goal is to take Bags of Hope to additional cities in New Mexico, then throughout the state, and finally nationally.
Brianna truly rallied her community. To solicit donations, she wrote letters to potential contributors, distributed flyers, used social media, created a website, hosted booths at community events, and made presentations to businesses, civic groups and churches. The first Bags of Hope big distribution event was held in August 2012. Storage, transportation, and luggage repair services were all donated to the project. Businesses and churches agreed to serve as drop off sites and Brianna has also applied for grants and community service awards to help fund the project.
Some organizations come to pick up donations while Brianna makes donations to others. She thinks it’s really cool when she is able to meet the recipients face to face. They are always so thankful she says. Brianna cares so deeply for this project that she cried after giving her first speech. When I asked her what words of encouragement she wanted to share with recipients, her response was that “things may be hard now but they will always get better. Please know that even if you feel like no one cares about you, people do care. People who haven’t even met you care about you. The bag is a symbol that people care about you and want to help you.”
Brianna’s shared her favorite Bags of Hope story with me. She was contacted by a foster Mom whose 3 year old foster daughter saw Brianna’s picture in the newspaper with a Dora suitcase. The little girls asked for the suitcase. When Brianna got the call she went “luggage diving” and was filled with joy when she was able to donate that special bag to that little girl.
Brianna has received a lot of awards and media attention. She has been recognized by the New Mexico State Legislature, received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and is one of five semifinalists for the 2013 Do Something Award. The Bags of Hope campaign has been so successful that the National Foster Parent Association has asked Brianna to help create a similar campaign on a national scale.
Brianna credits Bags of Hope with changing her life and allowing her to have many new opportunities. She struggled with depression before launching Bags of Hope. She was able to gain hope and lift herself out of the despair she was feeling by helping others. “Bags of Hope has been a lot of hard work but it is very rewarding” she told me. “I have also strengthened my leadership and business skills.” I asked Brianna if there was one more thing she would like to share with readers and she had another inspiring message for our youth. “You are already equipped with everything you need inside of you.”
In addition to spending time on Bags of Hope, Brianna is in her high school band and loves photography. She plans to go to college to study graphic design and photography.
To learn more about Bags of Hope visit: www.bagsofhope.yolaste.com
Owner/Editor - Chris Chmielewski