Black Voices: News, Culture & Community from Across the Nation
By J.A. Jones, Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG and TAMPA BAY – St. Petersburg native Sapheria Emani Samuels is the force behind Packs of Love Foundation, Inc. (POL), a nonprofit she founded in 2022.
She formed the nonprofit in response to witnessing the struggles faced by displaced foster care children in the system while serving as a dependency case manager in Hillsborough County.
Holding a BS degree in Psychology from Bethune-Cookman University and a Master’s from Georgia Southern University in Higher Education Administration, Samuels also teaches at Boca Ciega High School and is the owner of the motivational stationary brand, “Inspired Growth.”
“There simply was not enough resources or manpower to handle the influx of children who entered the foster care system,” Samuels recalls of realities that prodded her to start Packs of Love.
While she began “Inspired Growth” to encourage the youth she saw around her, she took it a step further – and started a nonprofit that collects toiletries and other vital care needs for the young people who may not have anything they need when it comes time to be shuttled into a new place – or out of the system entirely.
In a promo reel on Instagram for her foundation’s current campaign, the Care for Your Crown Hair Care supply drive, Samuels shares about the trauma-inducing realities many youth experience.
“Imagine a total stranger coming to your doorstep and telling you that you only have about two to five minutes to grab any and everything that you may need or that you love,” she states – noting that while the youth are given no information about where they’re going, they are still expect to “grab your things
and go.”
“How does that make you feel? The reality is, is that this is something that some of our kids in the foster care system have experienced,” she adds – noting the multitudes of unknowns that “really be a scary place” for the youth.
For Samuels, impact includes spreading “light, optimism, validation…we show up with essential resources to support our children and let them know that someone out here cares.”
With the support of our community, The Packs of Love Foundation, Inc has collected funds and supplies to create more than 300 duffle bags filled with essential hygiene items for displaced foster care children in Pinellas and Hillsborough County.
The foundation was recognized on Bay News 9 and has partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning Goal Getter program and NAMI Pinellas to bring wellness bags to youth.
“Overall, I love passion-driven work; and overall, I let my passion guide me to make change and be a voice to those who need it most. I am so thankful for our team and the community for helping us make a lasting impact,” Samuels acknowledged.
She noted that along with the impact her organization is making, a highlight has been the connections POL has made with the group home directors. “Taking time to connect with them, receive feedback, and being able to properly analyze their needs is a major highlight. We are building and we see the growth.”
She added that children who age out have limited resources after they leave the foster care system. They are often faced with issues including low self-esteem, poor sense of belonging, homelessness, unable to meet their basic needs, and without overall support.
To learn more about Packs of Love Foundation, visit www.packsoflovefoundation.org and follow on social media at Instagram/Facebook: @packsoflovefoundation. You can reach them by email at inspire@packsoflovefoundation.org.
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