The Superior Express -

I'm sure by now most of you have heard about the Ambassadors of Kindness, a nonprofit group in Superior, which provides children in foster care with Christmas gifts through donations. Over the last few years, they have begun doing much more than just playing Santa to hundreds of children.

Jaxon and Ellie Karnatz experienced life in the foster system firsthand and wanted to do something that would make the experience better for other children. With the help of their parents, Austin Karnatz and Brian Splater, the first toy drive was held in 2019. In just 22 months, a total of 237 individuals and businesses donated to the Annual TOYS4FosterCare, totaling $6,373,72 worth of items between Aug. 7,, through Sept. 28. Out of this toy drive, the nonprofit, Ambassadors of Kindness was formed. Board members for the group are Brian Splater, Carla Gebers, Reanna Sutton and Cassie Wagoner.

Since 2020 the group added the campaign Colors4Kids. This campaign provided colors, colored pencils and coloring books and paper to children in foster care and in hospitals, with a creative outlet they wouldn't have had otherwise.

This year they have added a third campaign, ComfortBags. The Cedars in Lincoln were the first to enroll in the Comfort Bag Campaign. This project will provide children in foster care with a bag to place their possessions in and the basics to hold them over for a time in a new placement. When children are removed from their home or foster home, they don't leave with much. The shirt on their back is often all they have, and if they have anything to bring along, it is often placed in a trash bag. Then the child is taken to an office to sit for hours while a caseworker makes calls to find a bed for them to sleep in. It often takes weeks to find a permanent placement, and that placement often does not have items readily available.

Imagine for a second being ripped away from all you have ever known. You are tired, scared, and frustrated. Then you are placed with a strange family, and all you own is in a Walmart bag. How embarrassed would you be? Ellie and Jaxon's hope is to provide a sense of security and confidence to other foster children through this program. They know firsthand how that tote bag or duffel bag and what it contains can be so important and provide security and hope for these children.

Comfort Bags provide each child with a tote bag, backpack, or a duffel bag for when they move. Each bag will contain two to four age appropriate items such as, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, body wash, a blankie for newborn to four years, a stuffed animal for newborn to six years, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, Play-Doh, or sidewalk chalk.

Jaxon Karnatz and his sister, Ellie, are the heart and sole of the non-profit Ambassadors of kindness. They hope to make life within the foster care system better for other children through the Comfort Bag campaign.

The "Comfort Bag" campaign is year-round and separate from the Annual Toy Drive. Every other month, Ambassadors will deliver these "Comfort Bags" to "The Cedars" and hope to soon be including the "Children's Society" and "Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association." Since these agencies will receive new bags as children are moved from home to home, they will need constant supplies. Each child will receive one tote or bag, and once they have received a bag, they will not receive another.

The Ambassadors of Kindness are seeking 10 to 30 recurring monthly donors for eight to 13 dollars each month. Just 10 people donating eight dollars each month will help keep the bags bought and purchase everything to go in them. To donate, visit https://www.paypal.com/donate/? hosted_button_id=TGAE86WLQP6SQ or contact a board member for more information.

Jaxon Karnatz and his sister, Ellie, are the heart and sole of the non profit Ambassadors of Kindness. The two children experienced the foster care system first hand before being adopted in 2020. They hope to make life within the foster care system better for other children through the Comfort Bag campaign. Comfort bags will be given to a child or teen when they are moved from one home to the next. Only one bag will be given to each child, but Jaxon and Ellie know that bag and the bag and its contents will be cherished and not lost.