In the last two weeks since 5-year-old AJ Freund's body was found in Woodstock, IL, more gruesome details emerge almost daily about not only his murder, but the life of pain and torture he had to endure until his death.

What happened to that poor little boy is absolutely unthinkable, and it sickens me to the core. Sadly, neglect, sadness, and sometimes torture, are the daily stories of so many kids in the foster care system, and it needs to stop.

We might not be able to fix a broken foster care system on our own, but we can offer support to the kids that are a part of it, and that is exactly what the Stuff the Duffel campaign is trying to do.

This campaign, created by a foster family in the Crystal Lake area, has one very important mission according to their Facebook group:

What are we doing? We are collecting items to put into duffel bags, backpacks and small luggage that can then be distributed to foster children as they are entering a new foster home. We hope to make the transition easier.

The items they are looking to collect are every day necessities like stuffed animals, blankets, underwear, socks, pajamas, coloring books, crayons, diapers and other things that a child needs to feel safe and cared for.

Several organizations and businesses in Illinois have volunteered to be collection sites for this campaign, and the Home Depot in Machesney Park is one of them.

Lisa Daverin, Manager of the Machesney Park Home Depot recently told WREX;

It was one of our core values is giving back here at The Home Depot,” Manager Lisa Daverin said. “So we were more than happy to jump on board for sure.”

Through May 21, 2019, the Machesney Park Home Depot will be collecting several every day necessities to fill duffel bags that will be distributed to kids in the Illinois foster care system.

Some of these children have nothing. Please make an effort to drop off some items today.

Catch Lil Zim on ‘Q98.5 Mornings with Lil Zim & JB’ on Q98.5 from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook

 

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