Santa still has 58 foster children on his list

Gift cards, teddy bears, presents needed to fulfill children's wishes

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Santa could use your help.

As the Foster Children’s Christmas Party draws near, organizers still need presents for 58 children. Teenagers who are collecting Teddy bears and other stuffed animals for the children at the party also need help to meet their goal.

Before Santa arrives at the Dec. 16 party in Elizabeth Hall, the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce and North County Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students hope to have enough presents and stuffed animals for the 130 foster children invited to the party. They are appealing to the community to give Santa a hand by providing gift cards, Teddy bears or presents for the gift table.

“We’re not as far along as we were last year at this time,” said Ronda Buckner, family and consumer science (FACS) teacher and a North County High School FCCLA advisor. “I’m sure the economy is a factor.”

Stuffed animals for the party may be dropped off at the high school office or at Buckner’s room, 228.

Tammi Burns, executive director of the Chamber said most of the children who have not been sponsored are 12 and older. Those students usually get $75 gift cards from Wal-Mart.

“We don’t expect everyone to spend $75. We can put smaller amounts together to total the $75,” Burns explained. “Any amount is appreciated.”

Anyone who wants to donate a gift card or toy is asked to contact Burns at 573-431-1051 or stop in at the Chamber office, 5 Municipal Drive, Park Hills.

The annual Christmas party is for children in foster care who live in the 24th Judicial Circuit of the Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division. The district is comprised of St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington and Madison counties.

This year’s theme is “Shrek the Halls.” The party, for the children and their foster families, runs from 6-8 p.m. and includes pizza donated from area store. There are goodie bags for the children and games such as Dance Revolution Wii to play. Foster children may choose a toy from the gift table.

Of course, Santa will be on hand to hear children’s wish lists and have his photo taken with them.

Throughout the year, the Chamber holds fundraisers to pay for the party. Sponsors from the community buy clothes and toys for the younger children and gift cards for those 12 and older. The presents go in a black bag, which foster parents secretly take home to put under the Christmas tree. The annual party helps make the holiday special for children who cannot be in their own homes on Christmas.

Last year, North County High School student Tia Propst added a new component to the celebration. She began collecting Teddy bears to give to the children. The FCCLA quickly joined her effort. This year, the students hope to collect about 200 animals to bring to the party, but had fewer than half that total before Thanksgiving.    

The students will collect stuffed animals through Dec. 15.

 

 

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