* Last week, I asked Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to tell us why our Christmas gift fundraising campaign matters so much. This is from LSSI’s Senior Director of Communications Barb Hailey…

We have heard from caseworkers and foster parents about children who have never had a Christmas tree. Foster parents have literally had to explain to the children in their care that the Christmas tree is for them. So that in and of itself is amazing, let alone the presents that donors help us provide for the kids in our care. We also provide gifts to biological parents to be able to give to their children in foster care.

Many of our foster parents are relative foster parents who voluntarily (and often unexpectedly) have accepted the children of siblings or their grandchildren into their home. These could be multiple siblings or they are joining cousins in the home. Support through gifts at the holidays can help ease a lot of stress these foster parents and experiencing. Moreover, that stress is not passed onto the kids in foster care—everyone is able to enjoy the season.

* When Ms. Hailey mentioned that LSSI helps biological parents give gifts to their kids in foster care, I was surprised, and it really stayed with me. She shared more about how caseworkers make it happen and why it matters so much to the kids and biological parents…

I don’t know if a lot of people know that. Sometimes biological parents might not be able to afford a gift, or perhaps only one gift, so if we can help out by offering gifts they can give to their child during a visit or that can be under the tree in their foster home from their biological parents, caseworkers can help with that. The kids in care have been through a lot of stress and trauma, so to make sure they’re receiving a gift from their biological parent is important.

* Here are some messages from those closest to these foster kids…

“While they are going through this chapter in their lives we want to be sure that the youth in our care have a safe place, a healthy place, a healthy environment where they can still feel like ‘I belong.’ Knowing we have built a foundation for having a Merry Christmas and the thrill of opening presents is a great joy we can all share in.”
— Foster Care Program Director

“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 that the people who give don’t witness this in person, but their gifts make such a difference.”
—LSSI Foster Parent

“Many of our families struggle everyday day to meet their basic needs, so the idea of buying Christmas presents is usually a dream. They know how special Christmas is to children. Providing them with gifts to make some of those dreams possible reminds us what is truly important during this holiday season, nourishing the human spirit.”
— LSSI Caseworker

“For kids who have been through so much upheaval and trauma, the Christmas gifts that donors help us provide go a long way to show these kids that that they are valued and loved. It’s fun to see how excited they are at the Christmas parties we throw for them and their families, and we know they will experience that same joy in their homes.”
—LSSI Caseworker

“I have some kids in my caseload who are avid readers. Talking to them about their favorite books and what they like to read is a great icebreaker during our visits. The donations we get at Christmas help us purchase their favorite books for them.”
— LSSI Caseworker

* We’re happy to share a couple of of from children who were previously in foster care and have recently been adopted. With their families’ permission, here they are opening gifts from LSSI…

This is what your contributions do. This is the impact. Every dollar lets LSSI help these kids feel like they’re part of Christmas.

Thanks to you all, we’ve raised enough for 1,663 gifts! That’s $41,575 toward LSSI’s goal of $63,250, which will provide 2,530 gifts for foster kids this holiday season. We’re about 66 percent of the way to the ultimate goal, but there are still 867 kids who need a Christmas gift. Every gift helps a child feel seen, valued, and part of the holiday magic.

Let’s make sure no one is left out this Christmas! If you can, please chip in by clicking here.