By Kathy L. Collins
We often get caught up in the spirit of the holiday season with decorating and shopping for friends and family that It is easy to forget about those less fortunate. For children in the foster care system, the holidays can be the hardest time of the year.
So this year, take part in the Kids Charity of Tampa Bay’s “Help Us Fill The Wagon” holiday gift campaign. This community initiative brings families, businesses and community groups together to provide gifts for foster children, at-risk families and teens aging out of the foster care system. There is no greater way to demonstrate your support for those in need in our community than to help show an abused, abandoned or neglected child that they too can have a happy holiday.
“This season, we will serve more than 1,800 foster children and families living throughout Tampa Bay,” said Paula Perry, Executive Director of Kids Charity of Tampa Bay. “We are asking for the community’s help. Working together we can send a message of hope and compassion to our most vulnerable children.”
There are many ways that the community can help. You can host a gift drive with your company or social group. Kids Charity of Tampa Bay will send you the ages and wishes of specific children.
In addition, you can select much needed items from a general list of critical needs and collect those as well. An individual, group or company can also adopt or sponsor a child or family.
All gifts should be unwrapped and delivered to drop off locations by Wednesday, December 12. Locally, some of the drop off locations include Curry Law Group located at 750 W. Lumsden Rd. in Brandon (drop off Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and at Lazydays located at 6130 Lazy Days Blvd. in Seffner (drop off Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday 12-5 p.m.)
Kids Charity of Tampa Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
For more information, please visit http://www.kidscharitytb.org/ways-to-give/2012-holiday-gift-drive.html or call 843-1833.
