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The Duffle Bag Princess

Dec 27, 2006

It's not everyday a 10 year-old bag lady is proud to live up to her name. When Makenzie Snyder from Bowie, Maryland heard how foster kids moved from one home to another carrying whatever they owned in trash bags she wanted to do something. The next day she started Children-to-Children by calling her friends and asking for suitcase donations. Since then, Makenzie has donated hundreds of bags to foster children, usually putting a small stuffed animal inside which she also collects. "I like to do this because these kids need me. Without me, they wouldn't have any bags," said Makenzie.

She carefully packs each bag with a stuffed animal and includes a note that says: "God told me you could use a duffel bag and a cuddly friend. So I send this with love to you." Last year she received a $15,000 grant to buy more bags and stuffed animals from the Freddie Mac Foundation, which is dedicated to brightening up the future of children, youth and families at risk.

"Makenzie is a real life angel and role model for all of us. Helping her reach even more young people through her very special program is exciting for us. I'm proud to be her partner in working to brighten the future for children," explained Maxine B. Baker, executive director of the Freddie Mac Foundation.

Check out Mackenzie's site Children to Children.

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