Children who are removed from their homes and placed under the care of the Morgan County Department of Human Resources won’t have to worry about not having a suitcase or bag for their personal possessions in the future.

Talented and gifted students attending Morgan County elementary schools are conducting a Suitcases for Kids project to take care of that need.

Priceville Elementary School got the ball rolling April 4-6 by collecting 42 new and gently used suitcases and bags for DHR. Other schools will participate in the project in coming weeks.

“Our students felt badly that some children must rely on a paper sack or plastic bag to store their belonging when they’re placed under the care of DHR,” said Cherie Humphries, PES assistant principal. “They wanted to make sure there is appropriate luggage waiting for every kid when he or she s arrives at DHR. They did a good job with the project and are to be commended.”

The students took their project a step further. They used a paper-recycling factory to make their own recycled paper from old newspapers and then wrote letters on the paper.

The letters included student drawings and conveyed positive messages such as “Have a good day” and “I’m thinking of you.” They contained other encouraging words so that children who move from home to home will know that someone cares for them.

Each suitcase/bag was placed in the Morgan County TAG van.