OVER 4,000 CHICAGO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE–COMFORT CASES ROB SCHEER TO JOIN COREY BROOKS FOR DAY 86 OF 100 DAY CAMPOUT AGAINST VIOLENCE
Chicago Foster Care Agencies to Receive 200 Comfort Cases for Kids in Foster Care
Chicago–Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, an international non-profit whose mission is to promote hope and dignity to youth in foster care, will spend two days and one night (Monday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 15) with Pastor Corey Brooks outdoors “on the roof” in the Woodlawn area of the south side of Chicago to help raise awareness of the violence that regularly takes place in that neighborhood, particularly on “O Block,” and how kids can end up in foster care. *
Rob is a proud father of five children from the foster care system who arrived at his home with trash bags. Growing up in foster care himself, Rob remembered feeling disposable as a child carrying a trash bag to his foster home, and he wondered how this could still happen 30 years later.
“I know what it is like to be a homeless youth,” states Scheer. “My senior year in High School, I was often sleeping on the street under an overpass. My time on the roof with Pastor Brooks will bring back many dark memories to me that unfortunately, thousands of children today are still experiencing.
“Many do not realize that once a youth reaches the age of 18, they often become homeless because foster families no longer receive government funding,” continues Scheer. “It is neverthe youth’s fault that they become homeless. It is part of Comfort Cases’ mission to help these children as well as supporting incredible organizations like Project H.O.O.D. in all they do to help those in need.”
Since 2012, Project H.O.O.D. has grown to serve over 1500 at-risk youth and 2500 adults in transition in the Southside of Chicago. With over 15 different programs focused on violence prevention, entrepreneurial and workforce training, education, and health and wellness services that support individual and community transformation.
“I am looking forward to Rob’s visit,” said Brooks in the blustery wind from the roof. “A major component of Project H.O.O.D.’s mission to end the cycle of poverty and violence includes homelessness. With over 4,400 children in foster care and over 6,000 teens in foster care, here in Chicago, Rob’s insight into this issue is priceless.”
Comfort Cases’ mission is to eliminate the demoralizing practice of placing children in homes with their belongings stuffed into trash bags. Each “Comfort Case” is filled with essential items including a new set of pajamas, a new blanket, an age-appropriate hygiene kit, a book and a stuffed animal to be given to foster care youth in need. “With more than 1000 children entering foster care daily, and more than 400,000 children in foster care nationwide, it’s so important to not just raise awareness, but to also provide hope and dignity to them by giving back to these children,” Scheer further states.
Two hundred “comfort cases” will be donated to Foster Progress, Ada S. McKinley, and other local foster care organizations through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Project H.O.O.D. has raised $8million in cash, commitments, and in-kind gifts for the Leadership and Economic Opportunity Center. Comfort Cases is also making a monetary donation to Project H.O.O.D.’s community fund.
While in Chicago, Pastor Brooks will introduce Scheer to the Woodlawn neighborhood, which unfortunately suffers from daily acts of violence among its citizens. Visits will include stops at the Parkway Gardens apartment complex and the landmark childhood home of Emmett Till.
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*Chicago Sun-Times Article: ‘O Block’: the most dangerous block in Chicago