totes 2 tots Drive Kicks Off Jan. 12

ALPHARETTA, GA — Georgia Cancer Specialists and Northside Hospital are once again hosting the 16th annual totes 2 tots drive to collect backpacks and suitcases for foster children in Georgia.

Donations of new or nearly new backpacks, duffel bags and suitcases will be accepted at locations across the state fro 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 at all GCS locations in Georgia. Please note this excludes the Camp Creek and Hawkinsville locations, which will hold theirs on Thursday, Jan. 11.

Area drop-off locations around metro Atlanta include: Preston Ridge Road Suite 110, Alpharetta; 228 Riverstone Drive, Canton; 1100 Johnson Ferry Road NE Suite 600, Sandy Springs; 1668 Mulkey Road Suite 104, Austell; 1505 Northside Boulevard Suite 4300, Cumming; 4586 Timber Ridge Drive Suite 200, Douglasville; 550 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1185, Atlanta; 698 Duluth Highway Suite 201, Lawrenceville; 6300 Hospital Parkway Suite 300, Johns Creek; 790 Church Street Suite 335, Marietta; and 159 Enterprise Path Suite 503, Hiram.

More than 13,000 children, from infants to teenagers, are currently in the foster care system in Georgia. Many of these children shuffle their belongings in garbage bags when they are removed from their homes. totes 2 tots aims to change that by giving every foster child in Georgia a new or nearly new backpack, duffel bag or suitcase. Since totes 2 tots launched in 2003, the annual volunteer event has collected and distributed more than 55,000 bags.

GCS and Northside Hospital partner with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to distribute the bags in the counties in which they’re collected. Virginia Pryor, interim director of DFCS, praised those who support the program, which helps to bring a measure of comfort and respect to Georgia's foster children.

"The totes 2 tots program allows foster children the ability to transport their belongings with a sense of dignity,” said Pryor. “By providing backpacks and luggage, the program offers a sense of stability during a time of uncertainty.”

totes 2 tots was originally held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a way to honor Dr. King’s vision of philanthropy and give back to the community. The event is now held the preceding Thursday to Saturday to kick-off a weekend of service in his honor.

WSB-TV Family 2 Family has signed on as the media partner for totes 2 tots for a 13th year. Additional support is being provided by Courier Express. For more information about totes 2 tots and a list of drop-off locations, visit gacancer.com/offices. To make a secure online donation, visit give.northside.com/totes2tots.

Image via Northside Hospital