IMVO (It’s My Very Own) Bags of Love, is a faith-based non-profit organization. It was off and running January 1, 2005, so it has been around for 11 years now. IMVO works along with the child protective services. CPS tells IMVO when they need a new bag and the age and sex of the child. IMVO had three age ranges the bags are for. I forgot that age range from the top of my head. If I can find that info, I will update this blog post with that.
Bags of Love
I got to learn about Bags of Love from Jo who came to our Share Your Love Luncheon at Piedmont Baptist Church, February 20, 2016. Jo talked to us about the IMVO Bags of Love Ministry. She said our county, Jefferson County, has most kids taken away than all other surrounding counties.
Per their website these children are removed from their homes due to drug abuse and neglect, not because of anything they have done. These children are victims. Many are left with nothing of their own. They lose their home, their parents, their clothes and their toys.
Most of these kids are removed because of the parents manufacturing drugs such as Methamphetamines (“Meth”). They cannot take anything with them, including the clothes on them, because everything in the home become contaminated. These children are taken to the ER, cleaned and detoxed, they are then put in new clothes and put into foster care or other arrangements. But again, nothing they have toys etc can be taken with them.
But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14
Items included in the IMVO Bags of Love
- Handmade Quilt
- Handmade Pillow
- Stuff Animal
- Toys
- Books
- Bibles
- Crayons
- Coloring Books
- Craft items
- Gloves
- Socks
- Winter Hat
- Personal Care Items (See below)
Personal Care Items Included
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hair Brush or Comb
- Shampoo
- Bar of soap
Sadly many local newspapers even shared how to make these drugs on the front page.
How can I help? I am glad you asked!
If you can sew or quilt, you can help make the quilts, pillows and bags needed. If you have any of the items above, you can donate them as well. Those items you find in the travel section of the store or even the samples that you get at the hotel, save them and use your own. You can even donate stuff animals, toys, and the other items need, listed above. Even when you go to your dentist, tell him about Bags of Love and the dental office might give you extras so donate.
I wished I took a picture of the table display at our church’s presentation, I forgot to do it. Usually I am a shutter bug.
For more information on how you can help and see if there is a local chapter near you or how you can help set up one in your area visit www.itsmyveryown.org
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Great post! I’ve been working with bags of love in Olympia Washington since 2008/9 time frame. It’s a wonderful opportunity to minister to the community and children. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome thanks for your time in helping these precious ones. God bless you Annir.
Hi Steve Patterson,
That’s a nice blog. Thanks for spreading the word. There are 5 age groups. Babies to 18 months, 18mo-3yr, 4yr-7yr, 8yr-12yr, 13yr-18yr.
Our Apache Junction Bags of Love group has been working over 9 years, and we have delivered to 5 different CPS here in AZ, that are called DCS now, a total of 1,782 Bags of Love. We meet every Monday and have a lot of fun doing it. Definitely the Lord leads this group because we are donated things all the time!
I think it’s called DCS here too. Awesome thanks for sharing the age groups. Thanks for sharing the info and God bless! I hope and pray this extra exposure can help spread the word to help gain donations and more.