An Oklahoma Human Services associate in Cleveland County is offering some holiday cheer to children and households concerned with the kid welfare system.
Each holiday season, the company collaborates with neighborhood organizations throughout the state to bring hope and a festive feeling to youngsters in state custody.
Deborah Shropshire, director of Child Welfare for Oklahoma Department of Human Services, stated displaying compassion by means of initiatives like Holiday Hope is a certain method to construct a stronger neighborhood.
“For children and families involved with the child welfare system, this care and support can create a tipping point toward brighter futures and healthier outcomes,” Shropshire stated in a press release.
Fostering Futures, previously the Citizens Advisory Board of Cleveland County, intends to fulfill 1,000 holiday want lists for teenagers in Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties for Holiday Hope. The group has labored with OKDHS since 1989 to coordinate for a Secret Santa program.
Sue Durrett, government director of Fostering Futures, stated this system offers children with the prospect to dream, want and be heard, and asks “community elves” to step up and supply the magic.
Fostering Futures has a number of alternatives for donors to become involved. They can develop into an elf and store for want checklist objects, or donate cash to buy reward playing cards for children.
Inger Giuffrida, chair of Fostering Futures’ Secret Santa program, stated caseworkers ship letters to households which have children affiliated with the kid welfare unit to ask for a child’s want checklist.
“We really want to fulfill what it is the kids themselves want,” Giuffrida stated, “and I will tell you that list can sometimes be extremely surprising.”
Giuffrida recalled a toddler from a earlier yr who solely needed a framed image of Jesus. She stated it’s typically heartbreaking to see the humility in the lives of children who’ve navigated troublesome obstacles in their paths as they age.
Parents and guardians submit the kid’s checklist to Fostering Futures, which works right into a system that tracks their achievement whereas sustaining their anonymity.
Then it’s up to the “elves” in the neighborhood to store for the items.
Some native companies and church buildings usually tackle greater than 20 lists or reward playing cards that often go to college-age college students who’ve aged out of the system, Giuffrida stated.
“The initiative is special because every person responds positively when they know someone has taken the time to care for them,” she stated.
For children nonetheless receiving care, the Secret Santa program focuses on fundamental requirements equivalent to shelter, meals and clothes, Giuffrida stated.
“They get to express something that they would really like to have and see that fulfilled for maybe the first time in their life,” she stated.
To be taught extra about this program, go to https://cabok.org/secret-santa. Those in changing into an elf this season can name Fostering Futures at 405-579-5000, or one can ship a financial donation at secure.givelively.org/donate/citizens-advisory-board-of-cleveland-county-child-welfare-unit-inc/2022-secret-santa
Jeff Elkins covers enterprise, residing and neighborhood tales for The Transcript. Reach him at [email protected] or at @JeffElkins12 on Twitter.
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