The residents of Esplanade in Lakewood Ranch came together, raising more than $40,000 and then packing 1,000 backpacks with essential items purchased with those raised funds for delivery to the foster care community through the Comfort Cases nonprofit.
“It was a group effort,” said Esplanade Communications Coordinator Kylee MacLeod. “All those donations … this is such a giving community.”
The Comfort Cases backpacks were delivered to Children First Foster Village (Sarasota), the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida (Port Charlotte), Everyday Blessings (Sarasota), All-Star Children’s Foundation (Sarasota), the YMCA of Southwest Florida (Bradenton), and Bridge a Life (Lakewood Ranch).
“Over the past several weeks, this amazing community came together to raise funds with one goal in mind … to make sure children entering foster care receive dignity instead of a trash bag,” said David Thalberg, the public relations director for Comfort Cases of Maryland. “This is what happens when a community chooses to show up for kids.”…