Cobb County Student Oversees “Birthday in a Bag” for Homeless Youth

Maria Raquel Thomas, a cosmetic brand owner and a Junior at Walton High School is the National Youth Ambassador for StandUp for Kids. StandUp for Kids is a non-profit that focuses on combatting youth homelessness. Recently, Maria, her friends and family came together to work on a project called “Birthday in a Bag.”

“Birthday in a bag" is project in which peers make birthday bags for at risk youth participating in the StandUp for Kids mentoring program and for kids on the street.

“Everyone deserves to have something extra special on their birthday and many of our kids don't have home support. What's most important about the idea is not how much it cost...but the feeling it conveys. We are excited to have Maria Raquel and her family and friends joining in on the project!” states, Kelly Fields, Executive Director.

The bags included hair trinkets, body creams and candy. The girls also wrote encouraging notes and put them in the bags.

“Our goal is to give them a gift to let them know that we as teens are thinking about them and we are here to help. Every teen deserves a chance in life,” state Maria Raquel Thomas, National Youth Ambassador.

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Maria Raquel Thomas oversees Birthday in a Bag project with friends and family.

Maria Raquel Thomas, a Junior and Kaamillah Rich, a Senior, both at Walton, write uplifting notes to homeless youth for the Standup for Kids “Birthday in a Bag”Project.

Maria Raquel’s family member writes a sweet note to put in the Birthday bags.