For children removed from their homes by law enforcement due to an unsafe environment, many often leave with a few belongings stuffed quickly in a garbage bag. Some leave with next to nothing.
One North Dakota based nonprofit is looking to change that by providing comfort backpacks to children experiencing a very traumatic time in their young lives.
The 31:8 Project started the Bravery Backpacks program in 2019 to provide law enforcement and service agencies with comfort backpacks for children and teens removed from their families due to an unsafe living environment, violence, or drug and alcohol issues. Bravery Backpacks provide vulnerable kids with essentials like clothing and hygiene supplies, along with comfort items like coloring books, journals, and a stuffed animal.
The goal: make sure these children no longer enter foster care or emergency shelters with only a trash bag of clothing, or worse, no possessions at all.
Thanks to a $13,000 contribution from AT&T, the 31:8 Project has been able to provide over 215 Bravery Backpacks to law enforcement and service agencies across North Dakota this fall, including the Cass County Sheriff’s Office in Fargo. While located in Bismarck, the 31:8 Project serves statewide.
“The mission of our Bravery Backpacks program is to provide some comfort for these vulnerable children to let them know they are cared for and supported,” said Stacy Schaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the 31:8 Project. “It takes a village to help kids in need. With this generous financial support from AT&T, we are thrilled to provide even more backpacks for youth across North Dakota.”
North Dakota agencies receiving Bravery Backpacks thanks to the AT&T contribution include: Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Juvenile Services, Red River Children’s Advocacy Center and Sanford CARE Clinic in Fargo; Safe Alternatives for Abused Families and Lake Region Ambulance in Devils Lake; Grand Forks Community Violence Intervention Center and the Grand Forks Police Department; Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center, Buffalo Bridges Social Services and Child Protection Services in Jamestown; and the Wahpeton Police Department.
There’s no doubt: the 31:8 Project is a wonderful organization that is helping so many vulnerable kids throughout North Dakota during a challenging time in their lives. AT&T is proud to support this nonprofit’s mission and help provide Bravery Backpacks to kids across the state.
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