‘The Bag Project’ packs pride for homeless kids
PRINCETON, N.J. – For homeless kids in New Jersey who receive bags filled with goodies when at 
– Provided photo
Anupa Wijaya, executive director and founder of The Bag Project, (TBP) started this organization about two years ago in an effort to support and comfort these kids in crises.
“I learned that the discretionary funding of most local organizations went towards transportation costs which didn’t allow them much flexibility in being able to systematically provide a duffel bag filled with basic necessities and comfort items to the children they serve,’’ states Wijaya.
After hearing stories about how kids are sent on their way from homeless shelters with their belongings in trash bags, and that they also lacked many of the personal care items they needed to survive, Wijaya decided to change these stories that were consistent for nearly all the children.
Therefore, she decided to start The Bag Project service organization, where she solicits donations to purchase bags and stuff them with “familiar items’’ to serve the needs of kids who are in transition.
Wijaya thinks this project is perfect for families with young children like hers who can go to a local Walmart or dollar store and purchase products to fill their own bags to give to other children. 
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“I was looking for service projects for my young children and I was not able to find anything age-appropriate and not scary,” says Wijaya.
“[But] this is a great service project to do as a family: go to your local store and pick up a duffel bag and fill it with age-appropriate toiletries, a book, comfort items and a blanket and know that it’s going to another child in need,” she says.
The Bag Project has grown quickly.
“As a result of new partnerships, we have already distributed over 1,000 emergency bags and almost 400 activity bags to our partner organizations,’’ states Wijaya.
She has managed to piece the missing part of the puzzle together across organizations by offering the very necessary bag service to the children in these homeless shelters.
Wijaya says the service is in great demand within the Greater Mercer County, New Jersey area.
“The need is so great and we barely scratched the surface in New Jersey. There are so many more organizations that we haven’t reached out to as yet, even here in Greater Mercer County,’’ said Wijaya.
The Bag Project has evolved since its inception.
At first, the service offered only emergency and infant bags. Now, it is offering activity bags to some of the children.
Those who receive emergency bags are usually in crisis, removed from an unsafe home, enters foster care, or a domestic violence or homeless shelter. The ones who receive the infant bags are usually infants facing the same crises. The activity bags are for children waiting for services or waiting for a parent or guardian to receive services.
The basic, self-care items and comfort goodies in their bags such as shampoos, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, teddy bears, blankets, books, crayons, and so on, are age-appropriate and in many cases gender-appropriate as well. 
– Provided photo
While Wijaya does not directly work with the children and families, she does get feedback via questionnaires about the children’s reactions to their bags.
“Responses we see often are: they were grateful, thankful, excited and/or happy that it filled an unmet need,” states Wijaya.
She also said that case managers at one of their partner agencies have told her that the bags have impacted their teens. They said carrying their belongings in duffel bags allowed them to feel like everyone else.
They were no longer carrying their items in garbage bags or shopping bags.
Wijaya also said that they are now in a position where they need to make sure that funding matches the need.
So far, individuals, families, companies and funders such as Allstate Insurance Company, have been supportive.
Other supporters include Age 1912 vintage jewelry store of Hamilton Jewelers and Project Linus of Mercer County.
Others also include are the Junior League of Greater Princeton, Johnson & Johnson, Church & Dwight, and private foundations that gave in-kind items and grants.
According to Wijaya, the bags are affordable. A donation of $100 can buy about five bags. She encourages folks to visit the website to learn how to donate.
Wijaya said her goal is to reach as many infants, children and teens as possible. She continues to work with organizations such as HomeFront; Anchor House; and Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the counties.
Wijaya said that the Division of Child Protection and Permanency now take a TBP bag with them when they have to remove a child from an unsafe environment.
Ultimately, “my goal is to be able to provide bags for every child that needs them in New Jersey, and that would be amazing,” she said.
