Day 1 Bags: Providing Dignity to Foster Youth in Need

July 18, 2022

Future Fund granted $4,500 to Day 1 Bags during the 2022 Future Fund grant cycle.

Day 1 Bags is a nonprofit organization that protects the dignity of our foster youth by providing at-risk children with duffel bags and backpacks, envisioning a future where no child has to pack their belongings in a trash bag.

Hunter Beaton, founder and CEO, remembers the confusion he felt as a kid when his adopted siblings first arrived through the foster care system.

"Why are they given these trash bags and not the proper supplies, the proper luggage that they deserved—the dignity that they deserve?"

So, for his Eagle Scout Project, he wanted to provide duffel bags and backpacks to foster kids in his hometown of Boerne, Texas. What started as a small Eagle Scout Project soon grew into the nonprofit we know today. With help from Beaton's family and in partnership with Flying Circle Gear, Day 1 Bags has provided over 40,000 bags in Texas alone.

This grant from Future Fund will be used to cover bags for Taylor County graduating seniors in foster care. Each bag will contain the following:

• $100 Visa gift card
• Backpack
• Vital document bag
• Toiletry bag
• Large duffel
• Bath towel set
• Steel-walled water bottles
• Inspirational stickers
• 3 fantastic books for young adults
• Polaroid camera with film, mini frames
• Handmade twin-sized quilt for every graduate provided by the Texas Quilters Guild

The total gift set will cost $250 per senior.

Hunter explains why he loves his work with Day 1 Bags:

"I get the opportunity to wear different hats from fundraising, grant writing, to meeting people and ultimately meeting the youth that are impacted by Day 1 Bags. In addition, knowing we are making a positive difference in the child welfare space has been very rewarding. We make sure each child or young adult is treated with dignity and respect. The thank you notes we receive are fantastic because many times, someone shares a story of impact which reinforces my desire to sustain this work that is so difficult. Also, I feel happier our work is serving a greater purpose and we are facilitating positive results, revealing transparency to all that donate, and continue to stand alongside others who serve this sector."

We look forward to seeing how far these seniors go with their new bags in tow!

Interested in building the future together? Learn more about Future Fund.