What if you had to fit your life in a trash bag?

With the duffle bags assembled, most of the volunteers had left, but James Hancock stayed behind. He went through each bag one more time to make sure nothing was missing: crayons, coloring book, two blankets, hygiene kit, teddy bear, handwritten note. Check. Check. Check. When he was sure the bag was complete, he set it aside and started on the next one.  

He was the last one left at a work-sponsored volunteer event that brought Schwab employees together to assemble duffle bags for kids in the foster care system. James, based in Omaha, lingered because he knew how important these bags were. He especially knew how important it was that nothing was missing from them—foster kids don’t have a lot, and they notice when someone gets something they don’t.

James knew all this because he grew up in the foster care system. From ages four to eight, he went through six different foster homes, and a bag like this would have meant the world to him. Like most kids in the foster care system, he didn’t have a lot—a couple pairs of underwear, some socks, and a few extra sets of clothes. He had a book, and some of his drawings, and a little round sled—funny, because he lived in southern California, but he loved to sit on that sled and dream. And like most kids in foster care, he carried everything from home-to-home in trash bags.

James says he was like a salesperson pitching himself to each family, hoping they would keep him. When he found his forever home with a wonderful adoptive family, James remembers unpacking, putting his socks and underwear in his drawer, and being overcome with emotion when he realized that he wouldn’t need trash bags again. 

Schwab offers employees eight hours of paid time to volunteer, but James says, “When your heart tells you to go above and beyond, you go above and beyond.”

So it’s no surprise that James stayed late to make sure each duffle bag was perfect. It’s also no surprise that he has chosen to focus on the bright side of his childhood experiences. Going from home-to-home taught James how to relate with people. It’s allowed him to be able to quickly make connections—a skill that helps him to excel at his job as a Client Service and Support representative.

“I like making sure every client feels like they are talking to a friend,” says James. “Each person is unique, and you may only get one opportunity to make a difference for them. You may be the first connection they have with Schwab, and you have the opportunity to treat them with kindness.” 

It was a unique opportunity for James to volunteer with Schwab for a cause in support of the foster care system. In a way it was his experiences in foster care that have given him the superpower to excel at his job at the company, so it was an opportunity for reflection. But more importantly, it was a chance for him to help kids just like him. To bring them a little more comfort and security. And to give them strength by giving them something stronger than a trash bag as they move through the world.