The Carry-On Suitcase Project benefits women, teens, and children who come to battered women's shelters with a suitcase filled with personal care items.

When women, teens and children leave their broken homes, many flee with only their life, their painful memories, and the clothes on their back. They have a difficult road in front of them to start over.

You can help by providing a suitcase to carry clothes, belongings, and other personal care items with the hope that it will help these women and their children to "carry on" their lives.  The project does more for these battered families than simply providing them with necessities; it shows them that someone cares and they are not alone.

Carry On Suitcase Instructions
Carry on Suitcase Project Instructions (PDF)

History of the Carry On Suitcase Project
Carry On Suitcase brochure (PDF)
Original Carry On Suitcase Manual 2003 (PDF)

In 2000, the Wal-Center 4-H club in Cass County introduced a project called the Carry-On Suitcase Project. It was a community service project that consisted of giving suitcases, filled with items for everyday living such as towels, shampoo, deodorant, and other personal care items, to Hope Haven. Hope Haven, the Cass County battered women's shelter, then handed out a suitcase to the adults, teens, and babies as they left the shelter. Wal-Center gave 160 suitcases in all to match a grant of $400 from the Missouri 4-H Foundation.

In 2001, the Wal-Center 4-H club decided to take the project to a county level. Cass County 4-H clubs were contacted to see if they were interested. The 4-H Jr. Leaders put together a procedures manual for each club to follow, including a commitment form that had to be signed by the 4-H club President and 4-H leader.

Wal-Center received another grant from the Missouri 4-H Foundation that was consequently split between the six different clubs that participated. For every month that a club wanted to participate, they would receive $37.50 of the grant money which they had to match with $37.50. Every month a club would deliver suitcases to Hope Haven, with some clubs taking on more than one month.

Wal-Center delivered suitcases for the three months for which no other clubs volunteered. They delivered more than 15 suitcases each time. Together, all of the clubs delivered 160 suitcases. Of those, 60 were for adults/teens, 70 for elementary children, and 30 for babies. 

4-H Junior Leaders providing leadership for the county-wide project included:

Last Revised 12-Mar-08