National Association of Counties (NACo) annual conference sponsored the project
Leaders from all over the country had the opportunity to visit Hillsborough County July 12-15 for the National Association of Counties (NACo) national conference and exposition. When the roughly 2,800 attendees weren't busy discussing government best practices and meeting fellow public servants from many of the nation's 3,069 counties, parishes, and boroughs, they helped fill duffel bags for youth in need.
Service project turned bonding experience
Hillsborough County's Duffels of Dignity program was selected as the service project sponsored by the 2024 NACo conference, where 297 duffel bags were stuffed with personal care items and a teddy bear. One hundred fifteen participants from the conference volunteered to fill the duffel bags and got them ready for youth in foster care. The duffel bags will be delivered to organizations in Hillsborough County to support the youth in their care. Through this project, participants helped local youth by providing a sense of dignity and a bit of courage, ensuring that each child receives a new duffel bag and personal care items as they begin their unfamiliar journey into foster care.
Filling them with courage
Launched in October 2022, Duffels of Dignity has donated over 1,000 bags and thousands of personal care items to children who are in traumatic situations, facing homelessness, or in need of emergency shelter.
The program maintains an Amazon Wishlist and accepts the following items:
- New or gently used duffel bag (24-28 inches) or suitcase (wheelie bags, suitcases with handles, and backpacks are all accepted)
- Personal care items
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Comb and brush
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Deodorant
Learn more about Duffels of Dignity and how to get involved at HCFL.Gov/DuffelsofDignity.