Esplanade pulls together to support foster kids

The residents of Esplanade in Lakewood Ranch came together, raising more than $40,000 and then packing 1,000 backpacks with essential items purchased with those raised funds for delivery to the foster care community through the Comfort Cases nonprofit.

"It was a group effort," said Esplanade Communications Coordinator Kylee MacLeod. "All those donations ... this is such a giving community."

The Comfort Cases backpacks were delivered to Children First Foster Village (Sarasota), the Children's Network of Southwest Florida (Port Charlotte), Everyday Blessings (Sarasota), All-Star Children's Foundation (Sarasota), the YMCA of Southwest Florida (Bradenton), and Bridge a Life (Lakewood Ranch).

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"Over the past several weeks, this amazing community came together to raise funds with one goal in mind ... to make sure children entering foster care receive dignity instead of a trash bag," said David Thalberg, the public relations director for Comfort Cases of Maryland. "This is what happens when a community chooses to show up for kids."

The Comfort Cases backpacks that were packed at Esplanade March 11 included items such as pajamas, blankets, hygiene kits, books, duffel bags, and more.

Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer flew to Florida to be with the Esplanade residents as they packed the cases. Scheer was raised and "aged out" of foster care himself.

Scheer's nonprofit, with the help of communities such as Esplanade, has given away more than 300,000 Comfort Cases backpacks since being founded in 2013.