Private sector donations will provide 'sweet cases' for Cherokee County DHS foster children

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Cherokee County office of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) has received generous community support to provide ‘sweet cases’ for children and youth in foster care. 

Children who are placed in DHS custody due to abuse or neglect often have no way of collecting or transporting their belongings to their foster care placements. ‘Sweet cases’ (instead of ‘suit cases’) are personalized bags donated to DHS for these children. The cases look like duffle bags and are decorated with the child's name and contain items such as a hygiene kit, blanket, crayons, and coloring books.

“I saw a Facebook post from a foster parent who was so excited that the ‘sweet case’ she ordered for her child finally came in,” said Dana Rogers, DHS child welfare specialist. “I did a little bit of research and decided to begin a ‘sweet case’ fundraising drive for our county.”

Rogers posted information about the local campaign on the Cherokee County foster parents Facebook page. A reporter from the Tahlequah Daily Press saw the posting and printed a story about the project, which in turn attracted attention from the community, a local business, and a civic organization. 

Hamid Vahdatipour, CEO of Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC), told the Tahlequah Daily Press that he wanted to donate to the project because the money will be used to help local children.

“You know they have nothing,” Vahdatipour said, “and to give them something that has their own name on it is powerful.”

Other individuals and civic groups have donated funds as well. The Tahlequah Kiwanis Club donated $375 to lift the campaign well past its original goal of $1,500. 

“The Cherokee tribe has a word – Ga da gi – which means working together as a community,” said Rogers. “I am blessed to be part of a very giving and supportive community.”

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