From lived experience
to lasting impact.
Our Story
What began as a personal experience in foster care has grown into a mission to ensure no youth experiences that moment again.
Where it all began
Suitcases of Hope began from a moment that too many youth in foster care experience.
When entering care, many youth are given little or no time to gather their belongings. Too often, those belongings are placed in a trash bag.
That brief moment can leave a lasting impact. It reveals a gap not just in resources, but in dignity.
For many youth, this moment is not just about moving homes.
It is about carrying everything they have in something that was never meant to reflect their worth.
A moment
that stays with you.
A decision to create change
After achieving permanency, Ashley Garcia Rivera made the decision to ensure other youth would not have to experience that same moment.
With the support of her adoptive mother, Elizabeth Benstead, she started Suitcases of Hope at the age of 16, turning a personal experience into a mission rooted in dignity and care.
Early Years
In its early years, Suitcases of Hope built partnerships with local agencies to support youth entering foster care, ensuring they received suitcases filled with essential items at critical transition points.
Today
Suitcases of Hope continues to grow, expanding to Virginia after serving youth in Massachusetts and North Carolina. With each new partnership, the organization is increasing its reach and working toward a future where no youth has to carry their belongings in a trash bag.
