New Jersey children pack bags for foster kids

Kenza Idrissi, an 8th grader, showed Fox 5 News what she and schoolmates at Robert Fulton School in North Bergen, New Jersey, packed in a bag with essentials and gifts for a girl they probably will never meet -- a girl is in the most desperate of circumstances, having been removed from her home and placed in foster care for her own safety.

Ellen and her husband Christopher Begbie became foster parents to Unity in 2013. Last month, they officially adopted her. Ellen teaches at Robert Fulton School. She realized that foster kids are often relocated in the middle of the night without even a change of clothes, so she got her students to prepare bags to give foster parents. She has named the effort Unity Bags, after her daughter.

Dawn and Carlos Rodriguez received a boy in trouble one night. They say the bag made a big difference. They say a child's face just lights up when they see the bag and its contents.

On the face of it, this is an important program for foster kids. But it helps kids not in those dire circumstances to help other children by teaching an emotional intelligence often not included in academic curriculums. 

Emmely Suarez, a 6th grader, says the bags give scared foster kids an opportunity to say: "I'm going to be OK."

Kenza says it is good way to give back to your community and bring happiness to someone doesn't have as much. Kenza has put her money where her mouth is. She has volunteered since 4th grade. She has given her birthday money to the nonprofit Children in Unity, which has donated some 800 bags in the annual effort.

Ellen says children helping children is life-changing for the students as well as those getting the backpacks.

It is a good deed from everyone involved seems to benefit.

http://www.childreninunity.com/