And, according to Child and Family Services Ballarat staff, it's a heartbreaking sight.

CAFS home based care co-ordinator Samantha Naidu said some children were forced to use shopping bags or large, striped storage bags to transport their clothes and toys.

"The kids turn up with their little belongings stuffed into bags,'' Ms Naidu said.

"Some of them even have white shopping bags with their clothes in them.

"It has such an emotional impact when you see it.

"It's so distressing for the workers, I can't imagine how the kids feel.

"You can look at it like `that's their life'.''

So CAFS is now calling for any new suitcase donations to help move the children, aged between birth and 18 years, between homes.

"We don't want the kids to feel like Orphan Annie or second-hand citizens.''

CAFS placement and support manager Fiona White said a lack of suitable bags for foster children was a statewide problem due to funding issues.

"We have 90 kids in care any one night and the majority of them wouldn't have any suitcases.''

Ms White said a local quilting group provided the foster children with their own quilts.

"Now we want them to have their own decent suitcase too."

Suitcases can be left at either Wozzle's Warehouse in Howitt St or at CAFS in Lydiard St Nth.

Any organisations donating suitcases will be recognised as a CAFS corporate sponsor.