On the week of January 24, 2022, Viking Media editors in chief Zoe Nguyen, Audrey Ajakaye, and Ananya Rao collected suitcases and luggage to donate to the CPS BEAR Room. BEAR (Be a Resource for CPS Kids) is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to abused and neglected children in Harris County and the caseworkers who protect them.

Children in the foster care systems go from home to home with barely any personal items so when foster children enter the BEAR room, it is to buy basic necessities. Due to lack of resources, kids can only pack their items in a plastic trash bag. Given their circumstances, this bag is their ownly itemwhen they move from location to location. Through this luggage drive, Viking Media wanted them to have something of their own in hopes of providing them with  stability and dignity as they move through the system. 

The Lugagge drive exceeded its goal of collecting 11 new and gently used luggage, with a grand total of 31 suitcases! However, it doesn’t stop there. Viking Media plans on hosting this event for years to come in the future. 

If you want to support children in foster care, go to https://bearesourcehouston.org/ to learn what you can do.