Campaign to help foster kids gathers donations

“It’s hard enough knowing that you’ll be moving in a couple months, and having to carry your belongings in trash bags makes you feel invaluable and heartbroken,” she said. “This is a small way for me to help the younger youth coming into foster care now.”

For her latest campaign, dubbed “Mari’s Sweet Cases,” Fernanda has raised $3,000 of her $8,000 goal to purchase duffel bags, which she stuffs with hygiene products, blankets and pillows, and donates them to children through various foster care and youth organizations.

She said she’d like to purchase suitcases with wheels instead of duffel bags, but that would require a larger investment to help as many children.

Fernanda has received several awards for her efforts and has spread the word about her campaign at various community events organized by the South San Francisco school district PTA and Redwood City Rotary Club, to name a couple.

The San Carlos Lions Club recently donated $500 to her program, and through that organization Fernanda found a new partner providing duffel bags at wholesale prices.

Fernanda, 19, grew up in Redwood City and began her campaign while living in Fresno.

Her current campaign, which can be accessed at togetherwerise.org/fundraise/marisweetcases wraps up in about a month, at which point she’ll shift to a new website. In the meantime you can reach her at mctfernanda@gmail.com to donate and learn more about her project.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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