Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cara Finger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

My Bag My Story is a 501C3 Nonprofit and Social enterprise. We provide new awesome durable bags to children in foster care. Often times the general public does not realize that when children are removed from their home, they are often given a trash bag, grocery bag, or nothing to carry the few belongings they can take with them.

It matters that a child has their own bag, this saves a child’s dignity, because when you are given a trash bag, it sends a message you are not worth more than trash. We are here to change the narrative in foster care that children who are in foster care do not deserve hand me downs and secondhand luggage. We want people to know these children, deserve more. We are a voice for a marginalize community of 435,000+ children removed from their home.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As an adopted child, myself, and having three children, two of them being adopted I was always very aware that I have ended up in foster care. After becoming a foster parent and watching children, come carrying their few belongings in a trash bag or a grocery sack I continue to ask people in the community of foster care if their children came to them, carrying their belongings in a trash bag. Everyone kept saying this was normal practice in foster care. I said it does not have to be normal and set out to change the norm. My Bag My Story is a buy one give one. For every bag purchased a bag is given to a child in foster care. We also take donations to provide bags for children as well.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My Bag My Story started and grew doing pop-ups locally. Being able to share with the community about children In foster care, carrying their belongings in a trash bag, and how important it is to give a child their very own bag.

Covid hit and we had to pivot to online sales. Being able to get in front of people and share about children in foster care was important, so sharing about children on social media, and telling their story about how something as simple as a bag seems small, but makes a huge difference is became very important.

Any advice for managing a team?

In managing a team, it is very important to find people with a passion for what you are doing. When people find out the statistics about children in foster care, they are blown away! Working as a team to advocate for children is a gift, so find people who have the same passion as you do.

 

To read the article on Canvas Rebel, click here.

Jul 19, 2024