FAMILY RALLIES TO GIVE KIDS CASE FOR HOPE.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
It shouldn't mean much, an old suitcase. Unless you're a child who suddenly finds himself bouncing around the foster care circuit - going from temporary home to temporary home with all your possessions in a big trash bag. Then, it means a lot. Having an old suitcase. The 6-year-old foster care child arrived at the Bryans' Sylmar home during El Nino last year. It would be a short stay, a week at the most, the child welfare worker promised. Just until they could find him a more permanent placement. No problem, Debbie Bryan said. She had already talked to her family; it was fine. A week, a month, they had plenty of time and room for the boy. Her own children, Gavin, 16, and Ashley, 13, were anxious for the boy to spend some time with them - a little warmup, maybe, for the day their mother and father, Brad, would finally get their wish and be able to adopt their own foster child. So they were all waiting for the boy at the door when he arrived last year in the middle of an El Nino storm, standing there on the porch with all his possessions in a big trash bag. It wasn't right, Gavin Bryan thought to himself, smiling and welcoming the boy into their home. Trash bags are for trash, to be tossed out. What's that say to this kid at certainly one of the most traumatic times in his young life? No, it wasn't right. Gavin talked about it later with his mom, after the boy had gone to sleep. The clothes they had taken out of that trash bag were a mishmash mish·mash n. A collection or mixture of unrelated things; a hodgepodge. [Middle English misse-masche, probably reduplication of mash, soft mixture; see mash. of sizes, much of it not belonging to the boy. It happens this way sometimes, Debbie knew from previous foster children in her care. There were always more kids than suitcases to go around. The abandoned or abused children are taken into protective custody An arrangement whereby a person is safeguarded by law enforcement authorities in a location other than the person's home because his or her safety is seriously threatened. by authorities who seldom have anything but trash bags to put the child's possessions in. Sometimes clothes and things get mixed up. ``Nothing fit him, so we went out and bought him some clothes the next day, then we stopped by the thrift shop thrift shop n. A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization. to pick him up a suitcase,'' Debbie would say later. When they got the boy home, all he wanted to do was pack and unpack See pack. his suitcase with his new clothes. ``He couldn't wait to go to his next foster care home with his suitcase, he was so proud of it,'' Debbie said. Gavin laughed as he watched the boy pack and unpack, so animated and happy. ``It was like this suitcase represented going on a trip, taking a journey to a safe place with a new beginning,'' Gavin said. The trash bag, on the other hand, represented nothing but being thrown away, knew Gavin, an honors student An honors student is a student in elementary, middle, or high school recognized for achieving high grades. Honors students are recognized on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as "honor rolls". at James Monroe High's Police Academy Magnet School magnet school n. A public school offering a specialized curriculum, often with high academic standards, to a student body representing a cross section of the community. . A week later, the kid got his wish. A permanent placement had been found for him. He packed one last time, hugged and kissed the Bryans and left for his new home. Taking a trip with his thrift shop suitcase. The next day, Gavin walked into the kitchen and told his mom about this community service idea he had for school. If one foster care child needed a suitcase, wouldn't a dozen or even a hundred? Why couldn't they all have a suitcase instead of a trash bag? Certainly there had to be hundreds of old suitcases in the back of people's closets not being used anymore. If these people knew how important those old suitcases could be to foster care children, wouldn't they want to give them to the kids? Debbie Bryan smiled as she listened to her son talk excitedly about this idea of his. She was proud of him, proud of all he had accomplished since transferring into this high school magnet program for kids interested in a career in the police field. ``We can call it Suitcases With a Heart,'' Debbie said. Gavin grimaced grim·ace n. A sharp contortion of the face expressive of pain, contempt, or disgust. intr.v. grim·aced, grim·ac·ing, grim·ac·es To make a sharp contortion of the face. . ``Geez geez interj. Used to express mild surprise, delight, dissatisfaction, or annoyance. [Shortening and alteration of Jesus1.] , mom, that's awful corny corn·y adj. corn·i·er, corn·i·est Trite, dated, melodramatic, or mawkishly sentimental. [From corn1. ,'' he said. But the more he thought about it, the more his mom's slogan made sense. She was right. These would be suitcases with a heart. So, that's where we are with this story. A 16-year-old high school kid who wants to be a cop someday some·day adv. At an indefinite time in the future. Usage Note: The adverbs someday and sometime express future time indefinitely: We'll succeed someday. Come sometime. is on a crusade and needs our help. He wants to provide every child who lands in the foster care system through no fault of their own a suitcase, not a trash bag. Because Gavin's absolutely right. Trash bags are for trash. Not kids. There are two drop-off points for suitcases. Councilman Hal Bernson's 12th District field office at 18917 Nordhoff St., Suite 18, in Northridge, and the police academy room at James Monroe High School James Monroe High School may refer to:
CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Debbie Bryan is helping her son Gavin, 16, collect unwanted suitcases for children in foster care, who must often carry their belongings in trash bags. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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