You assume that the kids are always moving from foster home to foster home. Often when they leave their parents home, they leave with NOTHING because it is dangerous for the social worker and the children. Some are picked from school, so have only what they have on/with them. I know of one short term (also known as emergency placement) foster parent who had 50 kids for a week or so each - in one year. She and her husband often had to shop for several changes of clothes, shoes, underwear for the kids. The state does not give a very large allowance for clothing to start with, so a lot of that came out of their own pockets. Sometimes there just isn't enough time or money to buy duffle bags. They resorted to giving the kids pillow cases when they were moved to more 'permanent' placements. Why? Because they felt the same way as you do about sending the kids out of their home with their few possessions in a plastic garbage bag.