RILEY — A Vigo County teenager is turning compassion into action by ensuring local youth facing sudden, difficult transitions are met with comfort and respect.
Audrey Reinoehl, president of the Riley 4-H Club, is the driving force behind Dignity in a Duffle. The community service project provides teenagers entering emergency foster care placement through the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) with a duffle bag packed with essential hygiene products and comforting personal items.
To date, the initiative has provided crucial support to more than 400 local teens during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
“Have you ever been on vacation and just forgotten something, and you have to go buy it? Really, that’s our goal—these kids are going through a very stressful time in their lives. They’re going to forget something,” Reinoehl said. “So being able to allow them to have that first night at minimum, just to kind of roll into things, takes some of the stress off the situation.”
When children and teens are removed from unsafe environments in emergency situations, the transition happens rapidly. Too often, they leave their homes with very little notice, forced to pack what few belongings they have into plastic trash bags during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. This reality can strip a young person of their self-esteem.
“Our goal is simple: to replace trash bags with something that offers dignity, comfort, and the reminder that their community cares about them,” Reinoehl shared.
With the help of her 4-H club, a local homeschool co-op, and numerous community members, volunteers assembled duffle bags that contain:
- Essential hygiene items
- Journals
- Fidget tools
- A personalized note of encouragement
Crucially, each bag is left mostly empty. This intentional design ensures that the teens have plenty of space to pack and secure their own personal belongings as they move to their placement.
While community toy drives and comfort item donations frequently focus on infants and younger children in the foster care system, teenagers are often an underserved demographic. “Dignity in a Duffle” specifically targets these older youth, tailoring the bags with age-appropriate items that offer immediate comfort on night one.
The project relies entirely on community support to keep the duffle bags stocked. Those interested in donating items, contributing to the project, or learning more about supporting local youth in emergency placements can find more information on the official Dignity in a Duffle Facebook page.
