A simple effort around a dining table, started in 2013 to protect the dignity of children entering foster care, has grown into an international charity that has provided essential items to hundreds of thousands of young people. The nonprofit has distributed more than 300,000 Comfort Cases and Comfort XL duffel bags to children in foster care across all 50 US states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom, according to official impact figures from Comfort Cases. Comfort Cases says its first Packing Party took place in December 2013.
Rob Scheer began packing backpacks at home after seeing his newly adopted foster children arrive carrying their belongings in black plastic rubbish bags. Scheer remembered his own childhood in the foster care system and decided to end the practice by starting Comfort Cases.
The first community Packing Party was held in December 2013, and Comfort Cases was soon established as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The charity’s impact figures show that it has reached all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Comfort Cases says its United Kingdom operation, Comfort Cases UK, launched in 2022. Maryland and Texas passed laws banning the use of trash bags in foster care placements in 2023, according to Comfort Cases. As of 2026, Comfort Cases continues to expand its partnerships with child welfare organizations.
Comfort Cases says Rob and Reece were shocked that the practice was still common decades after Rob had experienced it himself. A typical case includes: What started as a family effort quickly grew as volunteers and community groups joined the work, according to information published by Comfort Cases. Community events known as “Packing Parties” bring volunteers together to fill backpacks with essential items, according to Comfort Cases. Comfort Cases says Scheer has used his public platform to push for an end to the use of trash bags for children entering foster care. The organization says its work has also helped support laws banning trash bags in foster care placements. The organization says other states, including New York and Oregon, have also been considering similar changes.
Their adopted children arrived at their home carrying their clothes and belongings in plastic trash bags. The experience pushed Scheer to act. He brought his family together at their dining room table in Maryland and began packing backpacks with basic care items for children in foster care. In background information published by Comfort Cases, Scheer explains that children should not have to carry their belongings in something meant for trash. The charity’s goal is to replace those bags with new backpacks and duffel bags that children can keep as their own. Businesses, schools, religious groups and other community organizations can take part in these events. The charity has also expanded beyond the United States. Beyond giving children bags and personal items, Scheer has also worked to change policies around foster care. Its stated goal remains to make sure children entering foster care receive a proper bag filled with new essentials instead of having to carry their belongings in a plastic trash bag.
Today, Comfort Cases operates from its headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and works with child welfare agencies and other organizations to get the bags to children in foster care.