Suitcase Drive to Help Foster Children

Georgia Cancer Specialists will sponsor the 10th annual Totes 2 Tots suitcase drive for foster children on Friday. Twenty-five GCS offices across Georgia —including two in North Fulton — will participate in the drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Local participating include Georgia Cancer Specialists in Alpharetta (3330 Preston Road, Suite 110) and Georgia Cancer Specialists in Johns Creek (6335 Hospital Parkway, Suite 107). To participate, drop off a new or nearly new bag.

Totes 2 Tots delivers backpacks and kid-sized suitcases to foster children — from infants to teenagers — in Georgia. Many of these children must shuffle their belongings from home to home in garbage bags during frequent relocations.

The annual volunteer event was first launched by GCS in 2003 and has collected and distributed more than 25,000 bags. Originally held on Martin Luther King Day as a way to honor Dr. King’s vision and give back to the community, Totes is now held on the Friday before MLK Day as a kickoff to a weekend of service.

“Totes 2 Tots captures the spirit of Georgia Cancer Specialists and our practice-wide commitment to helping others," said Dr. Wendy Hawke Lenz, GCS chief operating officer. "By hosting the event to launch the Martin Luther King weekend, we believe that we honor Dr. King’s dream as we provide tangible reminders to the foster children in our state that someone cares about them.” 

GCS partners with the Division of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) to distribute the bags in the counties in which they’re collected.

"The Department of Human Services is extremely gratified to all those involved with the Totes 2 Tots initiative," said DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese. "The program represents compassionate recognition of the trauma often involved for children impacted by the child welfare system. Having a decent traveling case or overnight bag to carry a child's belongings may seem like a small thing, but, in reality, these totes contain not only quickly gathered items but the fears, uncertainties, hopes and dreams of children caught in a whirlwind not of their own making. I thank those who contribute and encourage all to consider being a part of this program." 

For more information, or to see the full list of participating offices, visit www.gacancer.com or Facebook.com/Totes2Tots, or call 1-877-716-CARE (2273).