Gwinnett Daily Post

Special Photo Donna Pettigrew-Jackson of Child Welfare Services and Dr. Wendy Hawke Lenz of Georgia Cancer Specialists show off examples of donated bags during 2012's Totes 2 Tots suitcase drive.

LAWRENCEVILLE -- On Friday, 24 Georgia Cancer Specialists offices, including the Lawrenceville location, are participating in the 11th annual Totes 2 Tots event, a suitcase drive for foster children.

The event is held during the MLK holiday to support Dr. King's vision of volunteering and giving back to the community.

"Totes 2 Tots captures the spirit of Georgia Cancer Specialists and our practice-wide commitment to helping others," said GCS Chief Operating Officer Dr. Wendy Hawke Lenz. "By hosting the event to launch the Martin Luther King weekend, we believe that we honor Dr. King's dream as we provide tangible reminders to the more than 8,000 foster children in our state that someone cares about them."

Last year, the Lawrenceville office collected 101 bags. Over the past decade, the suitcase drive has collected more than 30,000 bags for foster children around Georgia.

Totes 2 Tots asks for bags that are "very lightly used" or new, which include small suitcases, duffle bags and bookbags, but no purses.

"The Department of Human Services is appreciative of Totes 2 Tots and the generosity of those in the community who donate to this worthy cause, helping to bring some measure of comfort and respect to the children who receive these items," DHS Commissioner Clyde Reese said. "A bag may seem like a small matter but it is most definitely more. We encourage all to consider being a contributor to this program."The drive is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 698 Duluth Highway, Suite 201 in Lawrenceville.

For more information or to see the full list of participating offices, visit www.gacancer.com or www.facebook.com/Totes2Tots.