Pockets of Hope: Beneficiary of 2023 Trailer for a Cause

Felling Trailers will host its eleventh annual Trailer for a Cause online auction of an FT-3 Utility trailer to benefit a nonprofit organization. Felling Trailers’ goal is to bring awareness to various nonprofits that are making a difference by donating 100% of the winning bid from the auction to a different nonprofit each year. The previous Trailer for a Cause auctions have raised nearly $40,000 for nonprofit organizations such as SOMN – Special Olympics Minnesota, Lymphoma Research Foundation, Minnesota Fire Fighters Foundation, and Eagle’s Healing Nest, to name a few.

Felling Trailers, Inc. has selected Pockets of Hope as the 2023 Trailer for a Cause auction beneficiary. Pockets of Hope is a nonprofit organization that gives children entering foster care backpacks filled with items they need and items they can call their own, providing a light of hope for the future.

“Many times, children are placed in foster care quickly. The backpacks provide the children with something to start with, to hold onto, until the foster family can go and purchase other needed items.”

– Jen Bruzek, co-founder of Pockets of Hope

Each backpack holds an average of twenty items that vary depending on a child’s age and gender. Pockets of Hope provides backpacks for children from birth to 21 years old, including items such as shampoo, toothpaste, pajamas, socks, a blanket, a toy, or a notebook to provide for their basic needs, and hopefully some emotional comfort.

A late Summer 2023 auction is being planned for Trailer for a Cause. Leading up to the auction, Felling Trailers will work with Pockets of Hope to generate awareness about their work, the children they serve, and the hope and security these backpacks provide to children entering foster care. Everyday children are rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These children are confused, scared, and desperate for security and comfort after being separated from family, home, and possessions. Children frequently enter foster care with nothing.

“Every child should feel loved and cared about. Pockets of Hope’s mission fulfills basic needs while giving children hope for better todays and tomorrows. I admire these women’s initiative, applaud them for the impact they’ve made on thousands of children, and am excited to raise awareness of and funds for their organization.”

– Brenda Jennissen, President/CEO of Felling Trailers.

Located in Sartell, MN, Pockets of Hope was founded in 2014 by Lisa Schroers, Briana Sjodin, and Jennifer Bruzek. Lisa, a daycare provider, had Briana and Jennifer’s children in her daycare when they were younger. “Through my daycare, I like to do some sort of “giving back,” like supporting a Christmas family. In 2013 I came across an organization based in a neighboring community like ours (Pockets of Hope), and they provided items for children in foster care, so we organized a drive collecting the needed items,” said Lisa. The three friends realized there was nothing like this in their community and questioned why not? Jennifer, who works in child services, was keenly aware of how much their community needed this service. The three started talking about it and decided to take action. “We thought we should do something about this need, and we did!” said Lisa.

Since its beginning in 2014, 2,420 children have received a backpack from Pockets of Hope. The backpacks are distributed through county social workers and the Central Minnesota Child Advocacy Center (CAC). On average, the Pockets of Hope team puts together and distributes 30-50 backpacks a month to wherever the need is. “They primarily go to Stearns County residents as that is where we are located. Backpacks go to whoever requests them. If we can meet the need and have the resources to do it, we will,” said Jen.

“10/15: Our family lives in Todd County and recently had a sibling group of 4 placed with us. They have received your backpacks. I can’t tell you how excited they were to have their very own things since they came to us with the clothes on their backs and a school bag. Like one other comment I saw, it was like Christmas. It is extremely helpful to us foster parents not to have to go suddenly and buy everything.

​Thank you so much for your dedication to foster kids!”

(The Impact, www.pocketsofhope.org/the-impact.html)

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About Pockets of Hope

Everyday, children are rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These children are confused, scared, and desperate for security and comfort after being separated from their family, home, and possessions. Children often enter foster care with nothing. Pockets of Hope provides these children with new backpacks filled with personal care items they need and comfort items they can call their own. Our mission is to give foster children a sense of worth, bring comfort and provide a light of hope for a brighter future, one backpack at a time. Pockets of Hope is a nonprofit organization located in Sartell, MN, serving those wherever they are able to help, in and around Stearns and Todd County and throughout Central Minnesota.

For additional information about the Pockets of Hope, visit www.pocketsofhope.org.

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About Felling Trailers, Inc.