Although gift giving is not the real reason for this season, helping your fellow man always is.
For the past three years, Clayton’s Kinship Care Resource Center has done just that, making sure less fortunate families aren’t forgotten not only on Christmas Day, but year round.
The majority served are grandparent led homes who took in grandchildren to avoid foster care. “They love their families and do whatever it takes and because of that we do our best to help relieve some of their worry and stress around the holidays,” says Coordinator Angie Burda. For over 80% of recipients, this will be the only gift received. The most expensive item asked for is a bicycle - not computers, X-Boxes, Nintendo Wii’s and the like.
“Our folks aren’t asking for big expensive things, and that’s a testament to them,” says Burda, adding that participants have cancelled requests after getting support from their church, family or elsewhere so that others in need could be helped.
Other requests are: learning games, soft dolls (Baby Alive), Care Bears, My Little Pony, Easy Bake Oven, roller skates, cars/trucks, Handy20Manny tool set, SpongeBob, basketballs and especially clothing such as winter hats, clothes, shoes, coat or jacket, sweaters, blue jeans and T-shirts.
So far, there are over 500 children in the program. Of those, 204 have been adopted by someone in the community. The Juvenile Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program and the Community Bible Church adopted over 100 children. One person alone was able to help 20 kids, another took on 11, and county employees also contribute.