About Us

Journey Bags began in early 2019 as the brainchild of Janel Jensen. As a Hancock County school employee, Janel saw firsthand the need in our community. Being an experienced foster parent, Janel knew the joys and sorrows of working within the DSC system. She strongly felt the need to not only talk about the systematic problems facing our foster care system, Janel felt inspired to be part of the solution. One reoccurring problem she saw was with the emergency placement of children who showed up with nothing other than a bag of personal belongings that had hastily been stuffed into a trash bag. Many arrived with nothing at all. Janel wanted to help foster families by providing a few necessary items quickly after a child arrived. She connected with an agency called Hands of Hope which operated as our umbrella until October of 2021 when we become an independent 501c3. In March 2019, Journey bags continued to grow and expand, volunteers were needed to sort, wash, pack and distribute bags. Journey Bags went from occupying Janel's basement to being housed in six different homes. The volunteer staff grew from one to nearly twenty. Journey Bags has branched out to help not only children in foster care, but any child in need in Hancock County and surrounding counties. In 2019, Journey Bags gave out 116 bags. In 2020, 300 bags were given out. In 2021 we gave out approximately 450 bags as we also partnered with God's Open Arms during their Day of Caring event. Our team and Board of Directors are: President of Journey Bags, Dianna Adams, Vice Chair Carla Phelps-Julion, Secretary Kristen Mojica, Treasurer Joni Markle, Board Members Katie Johnson-Thurston, Shelby Sweet, Rochelle Shores, Alicia Keesling and Kym Tongate.