What does dignity look like? Sometimes, it looks like a brand-new suitcase…
We’re honored to name Onwards & Upwards as one of our newest Kindness Grant recipients, in support of their program Move with Dignity. This grassroots initiative is rooted in compassion, emotional care, and one powerful goal: to help youth in foster care feel seen and supported during one of the hardest moments they may ever face.
Here’s the reality. When a child in foster care is suddenly removed from their home, they’re often handed a trash bag to carry their belongings. These moves are abrupt and painful, layered with grief, confusion, and disruption. And the message that a trash bag sends, whether intended or not, is one of disposability and shame.
Kim Wilson, a Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of Onwards & Upwards, knows this reality all too well. She spent 17 years working in group homes and saw those trash bags on the floor of intake offices time and time again. She watched young people arrive or depart with little more than their clothes shoved into plastic bags. And she knew something needed to change.
That’s how Move with Dignity began.
With support from a $1,000 Kindness Grant, the program will provide ten foster youth with sturdy, brand-new luggage and personalized emotional care kits designed to support both their physical needs and their mental well-being. Each kit includes:
- A journal for personal reflection
- Affirmation cards to nurture self-worth
- Coping tools like stress balls and coloring pages
- A handwritten welcome letter filled with encouragement
It’s a small act. But it carries a big message: You matter. You are not disposable. You deserve dignity, comfort, and care.
What stood out to our jury was the emotional insight behind this project, and the thoughtful, tangible way it responds to an overlooked but deeply human need. Move with Dignity aligns with our foundation’s commitment to creating Pathways to Mental Health Resiliency, particularly for youth who are navigating instability and trauma.
By turning empathy into action, Kim’s project brings kindness into a moment that is often marked by loss. It replaces shame with affirmation. Trash bags with real luggage. Uncertainty with care.
We’re proud to support Onwards & Upwards and their powerful vision. We can’t wait to see how the ripples grow as more youth receive these kits in the months ahead.
➡️ Learn more about Onwards & Upwards and the Move with Dignity program at www.movingoau.org
➡️ Follow along on Instagram: @movingoau
Photo Courtesy of Onwards & Upwards