My name is Alexander Lo Russo. In 2024, I started Luggage for Love because of something my mom shared with me. She’s a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and part of her volunteer work is supporting children in the foster care system. One day, she told me how many of these children end up carrying all their belongings in garbage bags when they’re removed from their home or taken to a new placement. Hearing this really upset me, it just seemed so unfair and demeaning.

I started to think about what it must feel like to not only lose your home and sense of security, but also your dignity in the process. Even something as simple as having a real bag to carry your belongings can be a powerful reminder that you matter, that you’re cared for, and that your life is not disposable. That thought became the spark that started Luggage for Love.

The goal of Luggage for Love is to provide a bit of hope and compassion to children who are going through a really tough time. It’s about showing them that even though they might not have control over where they live, they at least have something of their own to carry what matters to them, and that there are people out there who believe in their worth.

Of all the children in foster care, teenagers are the most likely to be shifted around from home to home or put into group homes. For this reason, many of our drives will specifically focus on teenagers.