American comedian Tiffany Haddish has turned her difficult childhood experiences in the foster care system into a major charity project. Her foundation now gives thousands of suitcases to children facing similar challenges across the United States every year. The project began in 2019 and was inspired by Haddish’s own experiences moving between foster homes. Since then, it has grown into an effort to give young people more dignity and comfort during difficult changes in their lives. According to the She Ready Foundation, the organisation now gives away more than 2,000 suitcases and other pieces of luggage to foster children every year. The goal is to stop children from having to carry their belongings in plastic rubbish bags.
Turning trash bags into travel dignity
The suitcase programme comes directly from Haddish’s own childhood experiences, which she has often discussed in interviews and publications. She spent several years in foster care and was often moved from one home to another with little warning. Because she did not have proper luggage, her belongings were packed into black plastic rubbish bags. She has described this experience as deeply upsetting and humiliating. In her 2017 memoir, The Last Black Unicorn, Haddish wrote about how these experiences made her feel worthless. The book shares several details about her childhood. Later interviews, including those reported by People magazine, also highlighted this painful memory. In one widely reported conversation, she recalled being told to “only take what you can fit in this black trash bag”. She understood this as a message that “you don’t belong, you’re just garbage”. Learning that children still face this treatment today inspired Haddish to create the foundation’s luggage programme. Data from the US government’s Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) shows that children in foster care can move between several homes while in the system. Each move creates another challenge, as children must pack and carry their personal belongings.
Partnerships enable large-scale impact
The She Ready Foundation understands that one person cannot solve such a widespread problem alone. That is why the charity works with major manufacturers and retailers to support its work. According to details shared on shereadyfoundation.org, partnerships with well-known brands such as Samsonite and Away have played an important role in the success of the luggage programme. These partnerships help the foundation obtain strong, good-quality suitcases that can be given to children in foster care. The organisation explains on its website that the aim is not simply to provide bags, but to make sure every child has “their very own” piece of luggage. Having a suitcase of their own can give children a sense of stability and personal space during an uncertain time in their lives. Through these partnerships and other efforts, the foundation says it now provides more than 2,000 foster children with proper suitcases every year. This is a major expansion of the small project Haddish first imagined.
Foundation extends its reach beyond luggage
Although providing suitcases remains an important part of its work, the She Ready Foundation has expanded its support to other areas of young people’s lives. According to a recent foundation update, the organisation now offers programmes that help foster youth develop skills, find mentors and explore career opportunities. Information published on shereadyfoundation.org on 19 October 2026 about its Summer Cohort programme explains these wider efforts. During the summer, the foundation ran a mentorship programme for current and former foster youth. It offered guidance, support and useful resources, with a focus on education and career development. The programme ended with a public event where participants could present what they had achieved. One of the programme’s major achievements was the premiere of a film called Time’s Up, which was produced by young people and shown in Toronto. The foundation explained that the project gave participants practical experience in film production and event management. It also showed how the right support can help young people develop their creative abilities and prepare for future careers.