Knapik's Knapsacks

My name is Heather Knapik and I'm a former foster kid. Between the ages of 3 and 18, I lived with well over a dozen different foster families and group homes. Each time I had to move, I had to pack my personal belongings in black trash bags. I'll never forget how degraded and broken it made me feel. I was already feeling abandoned and afraid, uncertain of what was to come. Move after move after move, I felt more and more broken, unlovable, and worthless, like garbage tossed away when it was no longer wanted. Putting the few precious things I owned in trash bags only magnified those feelings in my young heart. 

As a grown woman, I'm mortified to find this is still in practice today! As you are reading this, children all over our country are moving to their new homes with their trash bags full of their most precious belongings. Knowing that they are feeling those same feelings of being thrown away that I remember so vividly, has driven me to make it my personal mission to protect as many young hearts from those feelings as I can. I am starting this GoFundMe to get Knapik's Knapsacks on it's feet. 

My hope is to provide children in their most vulnerable state, a bit of hope, dignity and love. Knapik's Knapsacks will provide a backpack or duffle bag to children entering into foster care, so they can keep their memories and belongings in something worthy of their most precious treasures. Often, when leaving a tramatic situation, they arrive with only the clothes on their backs.  Each bag will contain various items such as a comfort blanket, pajamas, books, school supplies, a nightlight, personal hygene items, a stuffed animal, and a Letter of Hope. 

If you feel it in your heart to donate to my cause, I would be so incredibly grateful for your help and support. Each bag will cost around $20 to put together. All donations will go toward startup fees,  Bags, and Supplies. This cause has been on my heart since I was a teenager, and I'm excited to be able to do my part in making change happen! Being able make a difference in even one child's heart, is worth it to me. 

If you cannot donate monitarily at this time, I ask you, from the bottom of my heart, to please share this with your friends and family. Alone, I can create a ripple, but TOGETHER, we can change the world!! <3