Caring for Iowa’s foster children

It's hard to imagine not being with your family on Christmas morning. While most children are dreaming of what Santa is going to bring them, there are children entering into the foster care system at Christmastime that have other, more critical concerns.

They may have suffered abuse, neglect, or denial of critical care. They probably worry about what is going to happen to their family, where they are going to live or go to school. When a child is placed into foster care during the holidays they could be hit with realization that they may not spend Christmas with their family or even their siblings, depending on how large the family is.

Sometimes siblings are divided into more than one home. They might be removed in the middle of the night or at another time when they least expect it.

There are amazing parents, relatives and friends out there that take these children in with or without clothing or shoes, and very often a broken heart. The financial burden these families take on is commendable as they try to normalize each child's life and to provide them with a Christmas morning they have been wishing for.

Families Helping Families has helped over 300 children with Christmas gifts and clothing, shoes, scholarships and support in the last two weeks alone. All of these amazing gifts were provided by community contributions and volunteers.

There could be children entering into foster care in the weeks before Christmas, so gifts and other contributions are still welcome. All gifts are used to help the children right here in our community and across Iowa.

Families Helping Families helps these children not only at Christmastime, but year-round with clothing, shoes, school supplies and other financial stressors, such as extracurricular activities. For more information, visit www.familieshelpingfamiliesofiowa.org or find us on Facebook.

Wishing every child a Merry Christmas!

' Amy Jellison is the executive director of Families Helping Families. Comments: amyj@familieshelpingfamiliesofiowa.org