Nonprofit founder addressing Republican women Club

Eight-year-old Hunter Beaton watched as foster siblings entered his home that they arrived with very little: what they did have was carried in a trash bag.

This made a lasting impression on young Hunter that later became an Eagle Scout project while attending Boerne High School. The goal: to replace those trash bags with real, new duffle bags. He thought foster kids had enough burdens to bear and wanted to find a way for them to feel “Dignity Not Trash.”

In 2016, Hunter’s project became the nonprofit Day-1Bags.

Hunter Beaton, the Founder and CEO, will share his story as the introductory guest speaker at the August 5, 2021, meeting of the Bandera County Republican Women at 6:00 p.m. at Silver Sage Community Center dining room.

A special invitation is extended to all members of the Bandera County Child Welfare Board, Child Protective Services, teachers and administrators, and anyone interested in our children and foster care.

There are over 400,000 children in foster care in Texas. Over 500 children enter foster care each day. The statistics on educational and life success are staggering: numerous studies identify mental and physical health issues as well as the higher risk for abuse.

The mission of Day-1Bags is “to provide brand new duffel bags and backpacks to foster youth instead of trash bags as luggage when begin removed from their homes or moved from shelter to shelter.”

And Hunter Beaton is just twenty years old: dignity and hope for foster kids is the focus of this UTA Distinguished Scholar.

Day1Bags has provided nearly 45,000 duffel bags and counting in conjunction with Flying Circle Gear in Boerne. It was featured in “San Antonio Magazine.”

Day1Bags is the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) supplier.

The Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards unanimously voted to implement the bag concept in 2017; each county can now order bags directly from Flying Circle.

You can find the bags in their Rainbow Rooms across the state. In 2019, they were featured on Good Morning America.

Furthermore, Day1Bags is partnered with One Simple Wish; a wish and a gift card in every bag.

Beaton was recognized as one of the Hill Country 40 Under 40, is the recipient of the Texas DFPS Commissioners Award of Excellence, and was recognized by the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) 2020 Citizen of the Year.

And he hasn’t stopped with just “dignity and hope” with the bags, but has expanded to additional programs.

Everyone is invited to attend and welcome to remain for the Bandera County Republican Women (BCRW) meeting.

Programs like Day1Bags are a critical component to meet BCRW’s goal “to support Bandera County youth and designated nonprofit organizations that foster Americanism and benefit local families and encourage members to volunteer locally for positive community benefit.”

Contact Susan Junker, 210-788-9160, for more information about BCRW.

For more information about Day1Bags, visit www. day1bags.org.