Hello,
It's that time of year again when we are seeking sponsors for our angel tree program. First off let me tell you something about our organization. We are the Robertson County Chapter of the National Foster Parents Association. Our main goal is to support our local foster famiies that join our assosiation. We offer educational opportunities and emotional support to maintain healthy foster homes in Robertson County. We try to prevent loss of good foster families due to being overwhelmed or undersupported as they strive to care for these at risk children. We also serve to mentor foster kids who have reached the age of 18 and have "aged out" of foster care and we reach out to at risk teen moms in our community to prevent their children from entering the system. We provide training, respite child care, and advice and support services. We also serve to provide Welcome bags and used clothing to help both kids entering and exiting custody and to teen moms. We accept donations any day of the year of gently used clothing, coats, toys, and household items such as dishes, small appliances, towels, and furniture. We use these to help foster kids starting off on their own for the first time or kids entering with no belongings. We strive to be a continued source of support to our kids even after they age out and leave foster care as they generally have no support from their biological families. We seek baby items, clothes,toys and furniture for at risk teen moms. We also seek new items for our welcome bags, such as T-shirts, underwear, toothbrushes, a small toy, coloring or crossword book, socks and hygeine items. Many kids arrive in a foster home with the clothes they are wearing and even at times in hospital PJ's. It is comforting to be handed a cheerful duffle bag, sewn by local churches, with a few things inside that they can call their own.
Now let me explain our Angel Tree program. First let me start off by saying we are not a government agency and though we work with them we are not a part of the Dept. of Children's Services or DCS. We are an independent Not For Profit charity. Our focus is based around foster children but we help any child associated with foster care. Let me answer a few commonly asked questions:
Doesn't the state provide funds for Christmas presents? No, the state provides a montly support check for each foster child, but no additional funds are provided in December. (According to a national study done by children's rights groups TN's board rate is 5% below actual cost of providing for a child in foster care. See www.childrensrights.org.)
Does DCS provide an Angel Tree program. Yes we do have an Angel Tree Program run by a DCS volunteer in Robertson County. Families supported by our program do not utilize the DCS program. We do not overlap.
If there is a DCS Angel Tree why do you have your own? The DCS Angel Tree program is wonderful but with over 9,000 kids in foster care in TN it is overwhelmed and has many limitations. We have found in our goal to be sure that our local foster families are supported and their needs are being met that this was a real need. Due to the demand on the DCS program they have put limitations in place in order to be able to provide. They support only foster children and only those who originate from this county. You may not be aware but children oten have to be placed in another county when that is the only open foster home with space available. Often when you turn to the county of origin of your foster child they do not have a similiar Angel Tree program and some foster homes may have children from 3 different counties all over the state and leaves families trying to get items from all different counties or they get assistance for one child in their home but not another. We provide to any child who is residing in a Robertson County Foster Home that is a member of our assossiation. That leads to the next question.
Will my gifts go to a foster child? Our program revolves around foster children but we support all children involved in foster care living in FPA homes in Robertson County. Our purpose is to provide support to the entire family. The children supported by our Angel Tree may be a foster child, an adopted foster child still living in a foster home (66% of foster children that are adopted are adopted by their foster family) and in some cases where there is a need, the biological child of a foster parent. We also provide sponsorship to Teen mothers who have aged out of Foster care with a baby or toddler and at risk teen moms. If a family qualifies we do not pick and choose only certain children in the home. We help all the children. If you prefer to specifically select a foster child with an active case we can arrange that.
Will my gift go to the specific child I purchased for and received information on? Yes! The only time we move gifts around is when an item received does not work for a specific child. (Please see helpful shopping hints below).
Can I meet the child I am sponsoring? Unfortunately no. Hippa laws strictly protect the identities of all children and families with children in states custody. Quite often we use nicknames and middle names on sponsorship cards and never a last name.
What does sponsoring a child consist of? You will receive a sponsorship card. (Please return this card with your gifts) It will have a little bit of info about your child and a list of sizes and a wishlist. Ofcourse if you wish you may get them everything on their list, you may add items not requested, you may substitute items and do not worry if you can't find something due to the stores selling out of popular items. You do not have to get them everything they ask for. An average sponsorship consists of an outfit or two, a shoe and or coat (jacket or hoodie) and a few items from their wish list. Stockings or stocking stuffers are a fun add on.
Do they need to be wrapped? No You do not have to wrap them but you can if you really enjoy it. If you do choose to wrap if you could make a note on the back of the card what is in the sponsorship this helps families if a certain item was desperately wanted.
Who sponsors a child? We seek out our local businesses and groups to sponsor. We do this to make it easier and more affordable by spreading the sponsorship between multiple people. Please understand that this is not a corporate request that needs to be written up and sent in to a corporations central office. What we are seeking is for a group of employees to get together and do this as a fun charitable activity for Christmas. It could be a thing where you put the list up on the bulletin board in the break room at a restraunt and ask everyone to get an item for the child. It could be 4 tellers and the bank manager that goes in to do a child's shopping. All the stylists at a hair salon or office staff at a physician's office, your church group or any club. It is a wonderful thing for a needy child!
Helpful shopping tips and common problems:
The 12 Hints of Christmas
1) Foster parents will make a list for babies and toddlers but any child old enough to participate makes up their own wish list. Please keep in mind that they are excited and can ask for nearly anything. We do understand that sometimes they ask for outrageously expensive items and you are not obligated to get any particular item.
2) Interpreting a list. If a child asks for an I-pod an mp3 player is fine. Just finding a similiar item is great!
3) Size and gender is vital or the gifts get passed on to another child. Look carefully that you are getting the right size item. Juniors Large for teen girls is nothing like a Women's Large this is our most frequent problem. A gift receipt with clothing is a good idea for an item that doesn't fit or just identifying the store clothing is from they will generally allow an exchange for another size without receipt. Look to see if it is a kids shoe generally for kids over 7 or a toddler shoe for kids 1 to 6 or 7. Check gender specific items like squinkie toys can have girl items or boy items inside the squinkies.
4) New or used? We ask that toys and clothes be new for our Angel Tree program but electronics can be used. Often kids ask for expensive items especially teens, such as camera's, computers, video games and game systems, mp3 players and people have great used ones sitting at home gathering dust. This is a wonderful alternative to purchasing expensive items. Also keep in mind stores like Game Stop have quality used game systems, video games and accessories for a fraction of the cost and they include a 30 day warranty.
5) Age appropriate is important especially with little ones. Be aware of recommended ages and choking hazards so we don't have to pass your gift to another child.
6) Look for handicap info if that applies to your child. We have gotten CD's for deaf children or a football for a child in a wheel chair.
7) Personalized gifts. Contact the information number provided on your card before personalizing anything. We are not allowed to release last names but even first names are sometimes changed if the foster parent chooses to in order to protect privacy. Sometimes on your info card may have a nickname or a middle name of the child. If you wish to personalize an item please let us know and we will get you proper first name.
8) Shop together. Go with a coworker or pool your money and let one person shop to take advantage of store specials like buy one get one half off and free gift cards for purchases over a certain amount.
9)If for ANY reason you change your mind please contact us as soon as possible or the child you selected may go unsponsored if we do not have notice.
10) PLEASE return sponsorship card with your gifts. It is difficult to keep items grouped properly while being picked up and delivered and even harder if the card is missing. (A great idea is matching bags, or a trash bag or large box to put items in to keep them together)
11) If a child asks for a pet please consult with contact number to see if foster parent was aware and ok with child asking for a puppy or kitten.(or as in one case a ferret ha ha)
12) Fun over Formal. Kids love color and fun items at Christmas. Especially the little ones would rather have a Mario or Elmo shirt than a church shirt. We all remember getting that shirt box at Christmas ha ha If you mix in their favorite character than they will enjoy the clothes!