Teen collects suitcases for foster children Teen collects suitcases for foster children (November 03, 2004)

By Jessica Scott
Senior, M-A High School

Life in foster care, getting shuffled from family to family, can be difficult enough. Some children suffer an added insult: having to move their belongings in plastic bags.

Thirteen-year-old Anna Murveit of Ladera decided to do something about it.

"It hit me how there are so many things that we take for granted, especially something we don't consider a luxury -- like a suitcase -- and I wanted the kids to have some dignity," she says.

That feeling led to a community-service project that Anna took on as part of preparations for her bat mitzvah, a Jewish coming-of-age celebration.

Anna, an avid tennis player and student at La Entrada School, got the idea for her project after reading a teen magazine. She found an article about Aubyn Burnside of Hickory, North Carolina, and her efforts -- back in 1995 when she was 10 years old -- to create and run Suitcases for Kids, a project that continues today. The mission is to provide every child in foster care with a suitcase.

Anna contacted Al Teglia, head of San Mateo County's Children's Fund, who confirmed that there is a significant demand for suitcases for foster children, as well as for the homeless.

Using a neighborhood e-mail list, passing out fliers, and posting a notice in her temple newsletter, Anna has collected 55 suitcases.

Though she had planned to conclude the project around the end of October -- the time of her bat mitzvah -- she has decided to extend it at least through November or until she reaches her goal of 100 suitcases.

The Children's Fund of San Mateo County, the Clara Mateo Homeless Shelter and the San Jose Homeless Shelter will all benefit from Anna's efforts.

INFORMATION

To donate money or suitcases, call Anna at 854-7395. To learn more about Aubyn Burnside and her program, Suitcases for Kids, check out www.SuitcasesForKids.org. For more information on Children & Family Services in San Mateo County, go to www.smchsa.org.

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