May is National Foster Care Month, and to promote awareness, Collins & Lacy, P.C is teaming up with the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program (SCYAP), a provider of foster care and community-based services, to host a statewide item collection drive for the organization’s Precious Cargo program.
The non-profit organization is a child-placing and family serving entity that provides treatment, advocacy, and services to children and families dealing with serious emotional, behavioral, psychological, and/or development issues. Precious Cargo is a program developed by SCYAP to provide stuffed duffle bags to foster children the day they enter the organization’s care. The duffle bags contain basic toiletries, school supplies, and comfort items such as a stuffed animal and blanket. The bags are prepared for specific age groups and separated by male and female, so they are personalized for each child. This is an important gesture of caring and support for a vulnerable child at a traumatic time in their life.
For two weeks in May, the offices of Collins & Lacy, P.C. (Columbia, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach) will be accepting donations for Precious Cargo. The community is asked to donate items to help fill the duffel bags, such as soap, toothbrushes, tissues, coloring books, and pencils. For a complete list of needed items, please click here. Monetary donations for the program can be made through SCYAP’s website at https://www.scyap.com/GetInvolved/MakeADonation.aspx.
All donations can be dropped off at the Collins & Lacy, P.C. offices on the business days of May 16-27, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. To find the location closest to you, please visit the firm’s website at http://www.collinsandlacy.com/contact-us/. For any questions, contact Collins & Lacy Marketing Director Janie Langdale at jlangdale@collinsandlacy.com.
“Supporting the Precious Cargo program is a wonderful way to involve the community and highlight the vital work SCYAP is doing for the children and families of our state,” said Christian Boesl, Collins & Lacy shareholder. “We are proud to team up with SCYAP to help spread awareness of the foster care needs in our state, and to give these kids a feeling of ‘home’ wherever they may be.”
“SCYAP distributes over 400 Precious Cargo bags to foster children every year and it is a special moment for each child when they receive their bag,” said Gail Cole, Development Liaison with SCYAP. “The stuffed animal immediately comes out as for a hug and then they usually ask if all of this is really just for them. They just can’t believe it, and often it is the first time we have seen them smile all day.”
To find out more about the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program, visit https://www.scyap.com/Home.aspx.
About Collins & Lacy, P.C.
Collins & Lacy is a defense litigation firm in South Carolina that delivers valuable legal representation for their clients through solid preparation, thorough execution, and client-oriented service aimed at success. With many offices throughout the state, including Columbia, South Carolina, the firm represents local, regional and national clients in the areas of construction, employment law, hospitality/retail and entertainment law, insurance/bad faith, products liability, professional liability, commercial transportation and workers’ compensation.
Collins & Lacy, P.C. is a member of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.