Fostering Joy

Winter is likely our darkest season. That is, it gets dark outside sooner, the weather turns cold and the lightismuted.Butit’salsoourHolidaySeason,aseason of lights when we celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. Even in difficult times, we gather with family and friends to celebrate our love and relationships. We give gifts. Even if by Zoom and mail this year.

But, some of us struggle in families without a lot of Holiday light. Stress and strain, economic and emotional, peaks this time of year. And children, from infanttoteenager,oftenbeartheweightofit.Oklahoma’s Foster Child Care system also peaks in capacity this time of year. Children, through no fault of their own, find themselves out of their family circumstances and into Foster Care with little more than the clothes on their backs. Imagine the darkest season of the year without your familiar surroundings and no Christmas or Hanukkah lights in your life.

A few years ago Social Workers at DHS began what is now called “Fostering Joy” by taking money out of their pockets to provide these children something for Christmas. Gifts suitable for infants, kids and teenagers wrapped for Christmas. Something to unwrap on Christmas morning and feel love in what must be a strange situation. Just something to say you are loved in this season of light. And, maybe some grooming products, clothes and essentials. Imagine the children from a Charles Dickens’ novel and you get the picture of what these Social Workers were seeing at Christmas, right here in greater Tulsa. Now, from that humble beginning has developed “Fostering Joy” to help children in state foster custody and their foster families. Last year 1,600 children were provided a little Christmas.This year, we estimate at least 2,000 children in our area will need some Christmas in Foster Care. Every year the number grows and the need extends up to Christmas morning with kids coming in. Every year it’s a challenge to keep up. But,youcanhelpthisyear.SponsoraFosterchild by signing up and getting the items on the “Fostering Joy” list. Each list is made to meet that child’s needs. The workers review each gift, wrap them and deliver to thatchildintimeforChristmas.Or,youcandowhatI’ve done for years and give “Fostering Joy” a contribution. That’s the easiest option. Funds are needed up to Christmas morning as kids arrive in Foster Care. With your monetary contribution workers go out and buy the items on each child’s list, wrap them and deliver to that Foster home. Believe me, there is no better feeling than giving a Foster child in dark circumstances a little love in this Season of Light.