It’s My Bag — Restoring Dignity, One Child at a Time
A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
“It’s My Bag” was born from a single heartbreaking moment that changed everything.
In 2014, Tammy Levent visited a foster care facility and witnessed something no child should ever experience: children carrying their entire lives in garbage bags. That image stayed with her. It felt wrong, dehumanizing, and unacceptable. In that moment, she made a promise: No child should ever feel disposable.
What began as a simple act of compassion quickly grew into a powerful national movement. Tammy reached out to her network in the travel industry, her clients, agents, friends, and community—asking for one simple thing: a suitcase. One suitcase to replace a trash bag. One small act that tells a child, “You matter. You are worth more than this.”
Within weeks, donations started pouring in. Within months, thousands of children were receiving suitcases, totes, and backpacks filled not just with belongings but also with dignity, hope, and a sense of ownership.
Today, It’s My Bag, a registered 501(c)(3), has delivered over 17,000 suitcases to foster and homeless children across the United States and beyond. Each bag is more than luggage it’s a symbol of self-worth. It’s a message that someone cares. It reminds every child who receives one that they are seen, valued, and deserving of respect, no matter what they’ve been through or where they’re going.
Tammy’s unwavering dedication to this mission earned her the prestigious Dottie Berger MacKinnon Wings of Inspiration Award in 2019, recognizing her as a catalyst for positive change and a champion for vulnerable children. But for Tammy, the real reward is seeing a child proudly hold a suitcase and say, “It’s my bag.”
How You Can Join the Mission
You can make an immediate and meaningful difference.
Whether you want to:
- Donate a new suitcase, tote, duffel bag, or backpack
- Contribute financially to help us purchase and distribute more bags.
- Volunteer to collect donations in your office, school, church, or community.
- Partner with a business, travel agency, or organization to host ongoing drives
- Help us spread the word about the mission of It’s My Bag.
…there is a place for you in this movement.
Every single donation goes directly toward helping children in foster care and in need.
Every bag changes a story.
Every act of kindness helps us restore dignity, one child at a time.
If you would like to donate, participate, or host a collection effort, please reach out to us and let us know how you’d like to be involved.
Together, we can ensure no child ever has to carry their life in a garbage bag again.
Call Elite Travel at (727) 726-9090 for drop off locations.
Call Elite Travel at
(727) 726-9090 to book your trip today.