In Utah, there is no shortage of good-hearted people who want to give back during the holiday season. But how do you give a gift that is meaningful to a child you will never meet? Here are some ideas from our Utah Foster Care staff:
- Grant a wish through our Giving Tree Program: We ask foster families to send in specific requests from each child in foster care in their homes. Call us at 1-(877)-505-5437 to get a list of gifts needed for children in your region. Or, you can stop by one of 11 Deseret First Credit Union locations with Giving Trees in Logan, St. George, and along the Wasatch Front to pick up an ornament with a child’s wish. On December 18, Hill AFB airmen, aka the “Santa Brigade,” will help us make the deliveries to foster families.
- Don’t forget about teen-agers! We all love to shop for those cute toys for little kids and often overlook the needs of teens also spending the holidays in foster homes. For them, we recommend gift cards to major retailers. We also accept checks that we can use to buy gift cards.
- Donate online. It’s easy! Great if you need an end of the year tax deduction too! Just click https://donate.utahfostercare.org/.
- Save the date for one of our Ask a Foster Parent nights or Forums around the state in 2014. Learn how you can change a life through foster parenting. Even if the timing doesn’t work now for your family, discover other ways to support foster families in your community. Find a list of events in your region in the calendar section of www.utahfostercare.org.
Please note: If you’d like to fulfill specific gift requests, they MUST be dropped off unwrapped at Utah Foster Care no later than Dec. 9. We will take accept gift cards through December 23.
The holidays can be an especially tough time for children who are away from their biological families. Your gift means a lot to them during this time and throughout the year.
Nikki Mackay- Director, Foster Family Retention Utah Foster Care
