Often, youth in foster care programs do not have anyone to purchase gifts for them over the holidays. Santa Claus sometimes needs a little bit of help to make Christmas special for these kids. This year, the MOMS Club of Clarksville, MD, channeled their inner elves to brighten the holidays for 26 local foster children.
Members (and Santa) with their donated gifts, wrapped and ready to be delivered to 26 local foster children by a child advocacy program.
The chapter worked through Voices for Children, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in Howard County, Maryland. Voices for Children recruits and trains volunteer advocates to represent the best interests of children in the Howard County Courts. They also provide a gift wish-list for foster children – the chapter got their list this year, and then the moms and kids were off to the store!
Chapter members find a gift for the foster child they have chosen from the list (usually spending $25-50) and some of the older kids even make holiday cards too. They deliver the wrapped gifts to Voices for Children, who then distribute them to the foster families. The event is fun for everyone – the moms and kids have a great time picking out the gifts, and each foster home has a celebration and shares the gifts they receive as a group.
With the help of these moms and kids, it’ll be a very merry Christmas in Clarksville!