[midwestaimee]

I really want to make a shout out to the local governmental agency who gave our kids gifts. First time foster mom to three and didn't really know what to expect.

Our licensing worker had us fill out forms in October with their sizes & likes. I had really low expectations when I went to pick up the gifts. Hubby & I opened the bags tonight to see what else we need to get and the answer is pretty much nothing. They included stockings and wonderful gifts and clothes. It really is the biggest haul I have ever seen. Dora & Diego gone wild!!!

Anyway - I know there are lots of flaws with the foster care system, but someone really cares about these kids & their Christmas morning.

It really is unbelievable. There is a minimum of $150 worth of merchandise per kid.

Anyway - wanted to share a happy story.

Peace.

[sdiedre]

Wow!! That's fantastic!

I had started buying toys for my 2yo foster son, then was told he would be gone by Christmas but I would be getting two more toddler boys....so I kept buying and wrapping - now I'm told my first boy WILL be here for Christmas....at this point I don't remember what's in the packages I wrapped!! I figure I'll just let all three take turns opening things and let them keep hwatever is in the package LOL! THEN I find out my mother has been buying gifts, too. If DFPS sends even more toys, these kiddos will really have a haul!

[ms_mckenna]

Very cool to hear that! We are interested to see what they are bringing our 2. We have bought them each something that I was afraid I could not find around Christmas (a Lightening McQueen toy, and a Troy HS Musical barbie lol). I am not having high expectations of what thier former foster mom put down on the lists for them. We will also get a gift card or gifts from our agency for the kids. I am just ready to see what they have so I can see what I need to buy lol.

[vegaschristina]

Our Christmas party isn't until the 22nd and we've already got other committments for that day, so I'll have to let the case worker know we won't be attending. The first year we went, I went home afterwards and cried for hours.

[mrsred]

I got a call from the state sw in charge of our foster daughters case asking if we wanted to participate and I said no. She is a pre-adoptive placement with us. We already have three other kids, two of whom we have adopted. As I explained the the sw, first off, between dh and I, grandparents, aunts and uncles all the kids will be getting more that enough gifts. Secondly, it would hardly seem fair to the others if she got a big pile of gifts just because her adoption is not finalized yet, and lastly, the funds are not without limit. Let that money go toward some kid who wouldn't get anything otherwise.
I am glad to hear the program works so well for those that need it

[fostermomintx]

My kids' worker is coming tonight to bring their gifts. They spend $100 on each child. I'm anxious to see what they get. My Mom has already bought B a ride-on toy. My sister-in-law is also buying the kids something. This is the baby's first Christmas...

I don't think any of my kids have ever received $100 worth of stuff but these 2 are from a different county with probably fewer cases so there's more money to spend on the kids.

[jjjjmom]

Neither of my 4 foster children got a present nor Christmas party from the agency or county sw.

They will from me!

[Dmommab]

Never used the program for Christmas "stuff" for foster kids in the county we are with now. Previous agency we were with gave NOTHING. Now we get a "gift certificate" with the child's name & age on it & we go to the "Christmas Cottage" and a "personal shopper" helps us. I didn't use it last year but this year $$ is an issue so I'm going to go see what they offer. ANYTHING will be appreciated at this point though. I'll let you know what I end up with.

[greenrobin]

Our agency had the Christmas party last night. We have corporate sponsors-Smith Barney, the investment firm. They not only gave us a wish list for each fk or pre-ak, but for ALL of the kids living in our home. It was extremely generous. The 2 year old got a power wheels when all we asked for was a big wheel. The 4 got a big wheel and the "fat T Rex" that he's babbled on and on about for 4 weeks. Our 12 yr old was given a game for his system. He already had it and was disappointed. One of the Smith Barney folks was passing out batteries and saw his very glum face. She brought a paper and pen, took down a list of games that he didn't have and promised to take care of the problem.

We found out that this Christmas party started 2 years ago. One day, out of the blue, someone from the local branch of the investment firm phoned up the agency and set it up. The workers last night just kept telling everyone how much fun this is for them. And they looked like they meant it.

[Sari]

Not a foster mom (yet) but in our county private people and companies buy for the kids in foster care and other programs. My mom picks up her "assignment" every year. She spends a ton of money and has a BLAST doing this for the kids. It's nice to hear the other sides of the story.

[RNB]

One of the few things I can commend our CPS for is that they do have a program for Christmas gifts. They usually get them one or two gifts.

The other thing is that at Thanksgiving they give each foster family a turkey. It's usually about a 22 pounder. I think one of the local grocery stores donates them.

But I have a question for everyone; have any of you bought gifts for a previous foster child who got returned to the Bio-parent? We just bought a few things for the baby boy we had for a year and was just returned. It feels a little strange, but we had him so long we feel that he is still ours. (We even asked CPS for us to get visitations, but they laughed.)

[midwestaimee]

RNB - do you have any kind of r'ship with bios? Could you call them up & see if you could come by with the gifts? They might appreciate it.

Sounds like some people have good luck & some - not so much.

Cheers!

[ms_mckenna]

Well I just wanted to add again. Our agency worker came last night and brought 50 dollar gift cards from WM for each of my fosters, then another 10 dollar card for them. On top of that they gave my 2 bios 10 dollar cards and DH and I both 50 dollar gift cards to Walmart! I was so happy! I thought we were going to have to do less than we normally do with the kids for Christmas and we have had extra money come from several directions at the last minute (the stuff with the foster kids, DH Christmas bonus, and my ex finally catching up on Child support ya!) and I am able to do what we normally do for my two bios for everyone. I also talked to my kids CPS worker and they mailed me a check for each child for either 100 or 150 dollars for Christmas and then each kid is getting 4 gifts from CPS(nice ones not cheapos). I am VERY VERY happy! We had bought a few gifts for our foster children already but I really get to go have some fun this afternoon! DH used his Christmas bonus last night to buy something we have always wanted a Pool table for our new game room!!!! I can't wait till Christmas morning.

[athikers]

Our kids got several gifts a piece last year. We did not know this would happen, so they REALLY lucked out getting a bunch of gifts from family, friends AND the county.

[lilraskels]

Yeah they the system would always do for our foster children and many times include my kids. It was neat so that my kiddos did not feel left out but never expected them to do such a thing.
Our agency use to do the same for all of the kids.
There is good to go with the bad...