Helping Foster Families During the Holidays

I  have received many questions and have heard lots of comments concerning foster care in the last few months. In attempts to process through them, take some action and give some understanding, I will be writing about different foster care topics. If you have a question, please share! 

First up, is simply an article taken from our agency letter that was sent out last week. There are lots of you, who are not directly involved in foster care, but would be a great blessing to those who are. Here are some ways to do so:

7 Ways to Help Foster Families During the Holidays (and beyond) 

1. Babysit so the parents have a chance to do some Christmas shopping, complete other errands, and even have a romantic dinner together. 

2. Wrap presents for them so they don't have to worry about trying to find time to do the work of elves in the middle of the night when they could be getting some much needed rest. 

3. Prepare some meals so they don't have to. After all, finding time in their busy schedule to make a homemade meal can be a big challenge. 

3. Come over and do the laundry, cook, shovel snow, put up Christmas decorations, or other tasks that might help them. Added bonus: While you are there you can be a listening ear and offer encouragement and support. 

5. Take one of the family's children for the day. Give the child some spending money to buy gifts for their family. Treat them to lunch. You will find this to be a wonderful opportunity to mentor a child.  

6. Have the family over for dinner or for a holiday celebration. 

7. Adopt a foster family or another family by committing to be an ongoing support and resource for the family, no matter way season it is. 

-Written By: Calhoun County Foster Care Collaboration