Each year, Children and Family Services (known to many as the Homestart Program) is proud to partner with community organizations including Family Giving Tree, Brandenburg Staedler & Moore, and individual donors to collect toys so that we may share the holiday spirit with every child served in our program and all of their siblings under 12 years of age. This year Family Giving Tree donated 250 gifts, Brandenburg Staedler & Moore donated gifts and funds, and individual donors purchased from our Amazon wish list, enabling us to distribute over 375 gifts to families in our program.

Our staff begins working in August to solicit gift wishes from families and collaborate with donors. We then work tirelessly through December to pack and deliver gifts, and seeing families’ smiles as our providers deliver the gifts makes it all worthwhile! 

Raising a child with special needs comes with many joys, but it can also come with challenges, like increased expenses and caregiving responsibilities, often limiting parents’ ability to work.
This can make the holidays a stressful time, and Children and Family Services is privileged to be able to bring a little holiday happiness to each of our families by sharing gifts each season! Thank you to all who contributed!

Caleb (Homestart client) opens his gift from the Toy Drive.