BY MIKE FUHRMAN

Of all the items that Isabella DiFiore puts into the backpacks that she assembles for children who have been sexually abused, a little square of inspiration stands out.

Along with a soft blanket, water bottle, coloring book and other items, the Statesville teen tucks a slip of paper with words that she hopes will comfort every child served by the Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center.

The slip of paper contains Isabella’s favorite Bible verse, from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Isabella didn’t fully comprehend the traumatic experiences the children who are served by Dove House have endured when she started Bella’s Backpacks two years ago.

Now a freshman at Statesville High School, she understands. And she hopes the love and care that goes into each and every backpack — along with the Crayons, hairbrush and little stress ball — can help with the healing process.

Each child who undergoes a medical exam and forensic interview to document their abuse is given one of the backpacks before they leave Dove House, which primarily serves children and their non-offending family members in Iredell and Alexander counties.

Because of strict confidentiality rules, Isabella has never met any of the children who have received the backpacks. But the Dove House staff has assured her that the bags and stuffed animals she had donated are well received.

“That just fills my heart so much,” Isabella said. “It helps me so much to know the children like what I put in the backpacks.”

The daughter of Jennifer and Steve DiFiore, Isabella was inspired to help others after she learned about the Backpack Buddies program at East Iredell Elementary School, which provides food for students who might otherwise go hungry.

A gifted dancer and classically trained soprano, Isabella has been competing in pageants since she was three years old. She remembers winning her first title (Tiny Miss Agricultural Fair Queen), and she still has her Majestic Miss Watermelon Queen crown.

Community service is an important part of the pageant experience, and contestants invest a lot of time and effort into serving others. As Isabella was brainstorming ideas for her own community service initiative, she kept coming back to something that her mom told her: “Always be kind to others. You never know what someone else is going through.”

Isabella has spread the word about Bella’s Backpacks while competing in pageants throughout the region, during appearances at local Rotary Clubs and a summer leadership program for girls, and by meeting with school groups. She’s also done TV and radio interviews to talk about the effort — and the important work done at Dove House.

“She works really hard, and this was all her idea,” her mom Jennifer said.

Since starting Bella’s Backpacks with her own money, Isabella has donated about 400 backpacks to Dove House, including the batch she dropped off in the middle of January.

Along the way, she’s enjoyed the support of her classmates at Oakwood IB School, ARS Truth Girls, her scout troop, and participants in the Abby Winthrop Smart Girls program. Levine Children’s Hospital, the local Daughters of the American Revolution, the Statesville Woman’s Club and Iredell County Commissioner Melissa Neader have made monetary and in-kind donations.

That has inspired Bella to continue the effort. She hopes to apply for nonprofit status and plans to continue the effort throughout her high school and college years.

“I honestly did not think so many people would support Bella’s Backpacks as they have over the past two years,” she said. “I’m glad the community has been willing to help. I’m so grateful for that.”

LEARN MORE

Visit http://bellasbackpacks.com/

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in the February edition of “IFN Monthly.”