* Rich asked me to write my first-ever pitch to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for foster kids. So here goes!

Yesterday, an anonymous donor matched $10,000 in contributions to help buy Christmas gifts for foster children. We raised $27,000 yesterday alone, bringing the total donations since Tuesday to more than $34,000!

Let’s try to build on this wave of kindness today.

* As Rich has already told you, we have 2,530 foster kids to help this year. Gifts average $25 each, so that’s a total need of $63,250. Thanks to your donations, 1,379 children will receive presents. But that’s only half as many presents as there are kids to help, so please, click here and contribute what you can.

What they’re saying:

* Mariah Heinz, Director of Donor Engagement at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, shared a couple of quotes that I thought you’d like to see…

LSSI Foster Parent: “My foster children have received Christmas gifts from LSSI. I never expected it! They just appeared. The kids loved them and it helped ease the stress of the holidays, which was a gift to me! I know people who give don’t witness in person what a difference their gifts make, but I can tell you they do make a difference, more than they will ever know.”

LSSI Employee: “Being able to provide our families with a gift for Christmas is impactful for both the families and the staff. Many of our families struggle every day day to meet their basic needs, so the idea of buying Christmas presents is usually a dream. Providing them with the mechanism to make their dreams possible reminds us what is truly important during this holiday season, nourishing the human spirit.”

“Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is the largest foster care provider in the state, offering traditional foster care as well as therapeutic foster care which serves children who have experienced severe trauma,” LSSI’s Heinz said. “Children in foster care often live with much uncertainty. A Christmas present brings joy and normalcy, and helps build a bond with a foster family. It lets them know that they matter.”

Extra contributions are used to meet urgent needs for the kids, Heinz said, including things like buying new boots for growing feet, providing warm coats, or supplying clothes and diapers for children who enter care unexpectedly without personal items.

How You Can Help:

Your support is crucial in ensuring that every child in foster care experiences the joy and normalcy that every child deserves, especially during the holiday season. Click here to make a contribution. Thanks!!!