Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgen Shaw.
She obtained her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Alabama A&M University. She took her degree, passion and experience to the field where she started working in many states counseling people in crisis. Through the years of working in the mental health field, specifically in shelters, she noticed that a lot of clients come into the shelters or leave the shelters were either scrambling to hold their clothes and belongings, using garbage bags, plastic grocery bags, or whatever they can find to hold their belongings. Witnessing that hurt her heart and God put it on her to start providing suitcases that she had in her own home to clients that were exiting or coming into the shelter.
After a while, she began running out and reached out to close family members and friends who would give her their old suitcases and duffel bags. It was from these early experiences that she thought, “what if I allow others in the Dallas Ft. Worth area to donate so I can reach more shelters in the area?” That’s when Suitcases For Shelters was born. Not only is Suitcases For Shelters providing suitcases, but this charity is providing hope that regardless of who you are, your walk in life, or your story, God will always be there to provide and cover!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a very supportive road. The only bumps I encountered on the way was obtaining enough suitcases to provide to shelters that I have been reaching out to. But, with the help of family, friends from all over, and sorority sisters, I was able to build a platform to get my voice to different areas for others to ship suitcases, donate money, and have different businesses help me obtaining further donations of suitcases.
Please tell us about Suitcases for Shelters.
I will start with our mission statement, I created this organization to provide a sense of going someplace, moving forward, on a journey to a better life. Whether homeless, been abused, have an emergency both in adult and youth shelters, when you move, you will carry your belongings with pride.
Suitcases for Shelter’s objective and vision is to work with the community to provide suitcases to every individual that currently reside in homeless, domestic violence, youth, and emergency shelters so that they may carry their belongings to their new place with pride. I specialize in gathering new or gently used suitcases, bags, or backpacks to donate to all shelters in the DFW area, and hopefully, soon branch out to other states.
As an organization, we were also blessed to be able to donate 25 backpacks filled with school supplies to a shelter. I think what set us apart as a company is the understanding that your belongings hold more weight than anything to you, especially when your belongings can be all you currently have to your name, having the luxury to carry your items your belongings with pride to the next stage of your life means more to someone than anyone can imagine. That is what I am most proud of as an organization, being able to donate to individuals and shelters and seeing the joy on their faces when they see such an accessible item, which is not always accessible to them.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory as a child is playing in a tennis tournament with my oldest sister, Jorden, but in this particular tennis tournament, my father signed us up to be on the men’s roster and play men instead of the women this time. I remember the stares, the talks, the boos and the complaints we received. My sister actually won her match, which was worst, we both got kicked out of the Tennis Association for two years. After that incident, I remember crying and how embarrassed I was. My parents both reassured me that every situation that occurs in my life that shapes me into being a better and stronger person, and that I could help someone on the way by telling my story.
Contact Info:
- Website: Suitcasesforshelters.com
- Phone: 4692788140
- Email: suitcasesforshelter@gmail.com
- Instagram: suitcasesforshelters
- Facebook: suitcasesforshleters
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
