64 MARCH 2026 | INTHEVUE.COM If you would love to help the cause, Bags of Love WKY can be reached through their web- site at www.bagsoflovewky.org or social media pages at www.facebook.com/bags- oflovewky and www.instagram. com/bagsoflovewky, as well as by mail at, Bags of Love WKY, PO Box 738, Benton, KY 42025, email at [email protected] or phone at (270) 205-7724. contributions, and volunteer efforts. “I stuff and deliver bags, stock inventory, run the website, social media and communications, and handle accounting. But the community makes sure we have that inventory, they keep money in the bank account, they ask me what I need help with, and I rarely have a need that isn’t fulfilled before I can even send out a request,” said Alison. “This community is amazing!” People often believe that the needs of foster and/or displaced children are all taken care of by the state and that is just not the case. When a foster child is dropped off at a foster placement, the foster family is not given any money to care for that child for 30 to 90 days. “A foster family is asked to pay out of pocket for a full wardrobe, toiletries, school supplies, food, and anything else that child needs. They must request reimbursement, which takes time, and only a fraction is actually reimbursed,” said Alison. “Toys or books are not reimbursed at all, except a small stipend at Christmas and birthdays. These families need all the support we can give them, so that these children can feel they are just as important as any other child in our community.” As Bags of Love WKY continues to grow – what exactly does the future look like? “I am interested in expanding to other counties in WKY, so if your organization or church group is interested in planting a Bags of Love in your county, I can absolutely work with you to show you the ropes, introduce you to your local child protective services office, and get a Bags of Love started to serve the children of your county,” said Alison. “We could also use a larger space to house Bags of Love WKY, so if anyone has a space or building to donate or can provide funding for such a space, please reach out to me.” No matter how Bags of Love WKY grows in the following years, Alison will always believe in one thing. Bags of Love is a way to deliver the message that, you are worthy, to those who need to hear it most.
