Ninth-grade student Ashton Arno puts together backpacks for foster children

PERRY, Ga. – Ashton Arno has proven it is never too early to help in the community and does so by giving backpacks to children in need.

Arno is a ninth grader attending the Westfield School but started his “A Bag of Their Own” project before high school. Every year, he puts together backpacks for children in the area and drops them off at a Necco Foster Care in Macon.

“Each backpack we put a blanket, hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and sometimes deodorants depending on if they are a teenager. I put toys, coloring books, bibles in there and I always add a little note in that has some sort of encouragement and a bible verse that relates to that encouragement,” said Arno.

Arno started the project in 2018; this year will be his sixth year helping foster children in the area. He shares his hope for next year: to make a logo and branding for his project. He said he is also trying to make it a 501c3, meaning his project will become a nonprofit organization. 

Starting the process, Arno counts what he has so far and what he has left over from the previous year, subtracting that from whatever total he wants to donate in the new year. Afterward, they will make a Facebook post with the amounts of each type of donation they need, and he spreads the word to his friends. Both Arno and his mother, Bridgette Arno Sparks, will also post an Amazon link on her Facebook page.

Their goal this year is to develop a website and social media page to spread more awareness on his project.

Arno then puts together the backpacks at his house. He said he collects the donations at his home and his mom’s office; on a specific date, he invites his friends and family friends over to help pack the backpacks.

After they pack, he and his parents go to Macon to drop off the backpacks. He said he used to take the bags to different foster agencies every year but has now decided to donate them to Necco. 

Arno shared that his mother teaches children with autism for a living, offering tutoring and organizing summer camps. He said she had a client during a 2018 summer camp with foster children. 

The client asked them if she could bring one of the kids she was fostering for a day. Arno’s idea was born after seeing the child carrying his belongings in a trash bag.

“Those kids came in, and that was kind of when I had a whole new experience, and I saw that kid come in carrying a trash bag. But just seeing his reaction to what we did and how he responded, I mean, he was so excited. He had never done anything like that before. It brought so much joy to my heart. The following year, I asked my mom if we could do something for those kids in our area,” said Arno.

Arno hopes to continue helping foster children and bringing his community together. For anyone interested in donating contact abagoftheirown@gmail.com. To follow his journey or to receive updates visit his mother’s Facebook page: Bridgette Arno Sparks.

HHJ News