OKLAHOMA CITY - Michelle Halbrook didn’t have kids of her own so, last year, she became a foster parent.
Right now, she's caring for three children ranging from ages 5 to 9.
She loves seeing their faces light up on Christmas morning.
“The excitement they had last year with opening presents,” she said. “I sat and enjoyed it.”
Like many foster families, Michelle receives some money from the state to cover the kid's basic needs, but it's hardly enough for the extra stuff like birthdays and Christmas.
Most of these children come from an abusive home and enter foster care with just the shirt on their back.
Citizens Caring for Children provides a big boost for families providing clothes, shoes, books, school supplies, counseling and Christmas.
“We hear from foster parents that want to provide a nice Christmas for the children, but their resources are limited,” said CCC Executive Director Lynne Roller.
Our Joy 4 Kids program is picking up the slack.
"We have committed at Citizens Caring for Children to fulfill 1,000 wish lists for foster children this year," Roller said.
We can't give these kids their ultimate wish of going home this Christmas, but we can give them something to smile about.
Thanks to our corporate donors, we've already fulfilled close to 800 wish lists, which means we're a little more than 200 shy of reaching our goal.
You too can help ensure they have presents under the tree this Christmas.
Wish lists are available by contacting CCC at 405-753-4099 ext. 106 or lbarnes@cccokc.org.
The recommended amount to spend on each list is approximately $75.
Deliver your unwrapped gifts to CCC’s drop-off location, Northpark Mall at 122nd and May (north entrance by Rococo) on one of the following drop off dates:
- Monday, December 7th 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 8th 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
