S1E2 You don’t have to foster to make a difference. Discover how: https://www.carepackageinbound.com/support-us

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Every year, thousands of children enter foster care carrying everything they own in a trash bag. Not because no one cares — but because no one planned for them.

Chris and Jessica Silvey of Care Package Inbound break down exactly why that happens, what it communicates to a child, and how a single backpack — packed with intentionality — can change the first 48 hours of a child's life in care.

In this episode:

• Why trash bags became the default (and why it's not as simple as "just use a backpack")
• The trauma response foster youth carry into adulthood — tied to the smell of a trash bag
• The years of research behind every single item in the bag (including why spiral-bound notebooks are a no)
• Why the bag has no logo — and why that matters more than you think
• The psychology of who gives the bag and how it affects whether a child feels like they owe someone
• How you can get involved — no matter who you are

"We can't fix everything. But we can change the beginning."

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Whether you’re curious about foster care, looking for ways to help, or already part of the system, this podcast will inform you, encourage you, and empower you to make a difference — one child, one story, and one moment at a time.

Subscribe so you too can be part of this movement!

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Get Involved:

📦 Donate items or funds: https://www.carepackageinbound.com/support-us

📧 Share your story or refer a guest: [email protected]

About Care Package Inbound:

Care Package Inbound is a nonprofit organization that exists to deliver hope to children entering foster care — through intentionally packed backpacks designed to provide dignity, comfort, and belonging in the first 48 hours of care.

Packed With Purpose is their podcast — where they pull back the curtain on the why behind everything they do, and empower you to be part of the solution.

S1E1 You don’t have to foster to make a difference. Discover how: https://www.carepackageinbound.com/support-us

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On today's episode, we're sharing the vulnerable and winding journey of how we launched Care Package Inbound to deliver hope to children entering the foster care system. The conversation gives a candid look at our early struggles, including moments of burnout, financial uncertainty, and the persistent feeling of being underqualified for such a significant task.

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Whether you’re curious about foster care, looking for ways to help, or already part of the system, this podcast will inform you, encourage you, and empower you to make a difference — one child, one story, and one moment at a time.

Subscribe so you too can be part of this movement!

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Packed With Purpose is a foster care podcast dedicated to delivering hope, awareness, and real-world impact.

Hosted by the team behind Care Package Inbound, this show shines a light on the often unseen realities of the foster care system — while proving that you don’t have to be a foster parent to make a difference.

You don’t have to foster to make a difference.

Packed With Purpose is a foster care podcast dedicated to delivering hope, awareness, and real-world impact.

Hosted by the team behind Care Package Inbound, this show shines a light on the often unseen realities of the foster care system — while proving that you don’t have to be a foster parent to make a difference.

Each episode features powerful conversations with social workers, doctors, psychiatrists, foster parents, former foster youth, biological families, and everyday people who are helping change lives in meaningful ways. Together, we explore the challenges children face when entering foster care, the emotional weight carried by families and professionals, and the small, intentional actions that can create lasting change.

Packed With Purpose balances honest, sometimes heavy stories with joy, humor, and hope. You’ll hear firsthand experiences that challenge assumptions, inspire compassion, and remind us that healing is possible — even years later. From emergency backpacks that meet immediate needs to stories that spark long-term transformation, every conversation is intentional and truly packed with purpose.

Whether you’re curious about foster care, looking for ways to help, or already part of the system, this podcast will inform you, encourage you, and empower you to make a difference — one child, one story, and one moment at a time.