LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Amanda Beck might not have wings, but that doesn't mean she's not a guardian angel.
"I aspire to be like Amanda — she has the biggest heart, she's so compassionate, she's selfless and she never wants anything about her," said Terri Kearney, a member of Purpose Driven Optimist, a group of volunteers that helps with various community needs. "It's all about the kiddos."
Beck is the director of Packs of Hope, a group that fills backpacks with essential clothing and items to help kids transitioning in and out of foster care. She is dedicated to protecting Colorado kids wrapped up in that world, which can get lonely.
"We just want to show them a little hope and joy," she said. "If we can bring a little of that into their lives, it would be wonderful."
Kathy King, a family advocate with Jefferson County, said this helps kids get what they need physically and emotionally, especially when they can't bring anything from home with them into foster care.
The program started 11 years ago in Jefferson County. Today, Packs of Hope serves nine counties with about 300 backpacks each month.
"In a backpack comes a shirt, pants, pajamas, socks and underwear and a sweatshirt or a jacket," Beck said. "And then we put in diapers and wipes for the babies and blankets. Then we do a book and a special gift."
This wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the community. All of the items are donated and each pack contains about $70 worth of new goods.
"Every week we have about two to three groups that come in to volunteer and they just spend about two to three hours in here packing the bags and once we're done packing the bags, we check them," Beck said.
For the foster kids, it gives them a fresh start and, more importantly, a little hope.
"Some of these children have never had anything brand new or anything that belongs to just them," Beck said. "So it's an honor to do this for them."
Molly Hendrickson anchors Denver7 in the mornings from 4:30-7 a.m. She also features a different 7Everyday Hero each week on Denver7. Follow Molly on Facebook here and Twitter here. To nominate a hero in your life, click here.
