On an early morning in August, Marcie Hanz was listening to the radio while driving to Canyon Ridge Elementary School.
"I always try to find things for my students to do during the year. (What I heard) was a concept that never crossed my mind," the 5th-grade teacher said.
That morning, Hanz learned about an organization called Bags Not Rags. It's a concept that would later start a movement to brighten the lives of hundreds of children.
"I told other teachers about it. And we did it as a 5th-grade service project. We began collecting bags from students," Hanz said.
The bags are collected for foster kids. Hanz learned from the radio that the majority of foster kids go to a new home with a trash bag in hand.
It's the only bag they are given to collect their personal belongings. And too often, Hanz said, these bags are thrown away by mistake.
So she decided to teach her students a new lesson.
"I had them close their eyes. I had them imagine they are in a child's shoes and walk into their room. I told them, 'I want you to think of 10 things you would take out of your house with you,'" Hanz said. "Now, put it in your trash bag. Go to a new home where you don't know anyone, and suddenly, you realize your trash bag was thrown away by accident."
In two weeks at the beginning of October, the 5th grade class collected 300 fabric bags. All of them will be donated to CPS.
And the movement doesn't stop in San Antonio. It's going on in 11 other states.
Mindy Viteri founded the organization in June of this year. She was in Tennessee at the time, looking to become a foster parent herself.
That's when she said she was exposed to the lives of these foster children.
"I learned about the trash bags. It's demoralizing, demeaning and embarrassing. It's telling them their precious items are trash. And so are they," Viteri said.
Today, her organization is a liaison between the public and social service agencies.
"People across the country donate backpacks, luggage, duffle bags... any sort of fabric bag that's useable and in good condition. Then they take them to a drop-off point. We give them to child services in the same community they are collected," Viteri said.
Here in San Antonio, Hanz says she'll continue collecting bags as long as she can. She says her students were moved and captivated by the cause.
"One young girl brought a princess bag and said it's not very nice but I want to donate it. Another girl then turned around and said, 'Well, a little girl will love it,'" Hanz said.
A trash bag turned into a princess bag is something that can make a difference for a child.
"This is very personal and hits closer to home than anything we've done at the school," Hanz said.
Bags Not Rags is also looking for volunteers. If you would like to help or donate bags and funds, you can call 1-888-868-4952 or visit www.bagsnotrags.com
