Rio Hondo’s Guardian Scholars program 3rd annual Case of Hope suitcase and backpack drive concludes Wednesday, November 30th.

The Guardian Scholars program assists over 130 RHC students who identify as current or former foster youth, creating a foundation for traditionally at-risk students to transition into college life and begin their lives independently.

The Case of Hope drive was initiated to overcome a need from many foster youth: storage. Many foster youth travel and transition from home to home with the little they can carry.

The goal of the Case of Hope program is to give both RHC students, as well as foster youth in the community, assisting in those transitions, a stability many foster youth need.

“Children typically move from home to home within foster care, and unfortunately, sometimes, they have to move their belonging in a trash bag,” explains Marisela Saenz, Interim Counselor/Coordinator of the Guardian Scholars program. “The purpose is give children…something that belongs to them.”

Since Case of Hope’s inception in 2014, the Guardian Scholars program, in association with The Foster Kinship Care Education Program, Student Life and Leadership, and the Whittier based Concept 7 Foster Family Agency, distributed more than 300 bags, backpacks, and suitcases to students in the community.

Students and Faculty at Rio are encouraged to donate used suitcases and backpacks. Saenz adds that although the donation deadline is November 30th, the Guardian Scholars program is accept donations if space is available. She also reminds the community that the drive is hosted annually, and insists that potential donators contribute the following year.

“It makes a significant impact in the lives of these children that are in foster care, giving them that sense of belonging and home,” Saenz says.

Case of Hope will distribute the backpacks and suitcases at a luncheon at Rio Hondo Saturday, December 3rd.