The Christmas Cheer program sponsored by the Sampson County Department of Social Services helps make the Christmas holiday special for the children and adults who are part of the foster care system.
Each year the program provides gifts to those children and adults who are in custody of the local agency. Agency officials are seeking help in getting donations for the remaining children and adults who have not been adopted this holiday season.
According to Lynn Fields, program manager for the local DSS agency, there are 97 children in the foster care system in Sampson County and 25 adult wards. During Christmas, the department tries to purchase items for these children and adults, but some of those in custody have yet to be adopted.
The department doesn’t purchase extravagant items, normally getting a pair of pants, a shirt, underwear, shoes, socks and personal hygiene items for the adults. For the children, the department purchases clothing and tries to get some age appropriate items of the child’s wish list.
“For the past two years we have mailed letters to churches, businesses and different civic organizations across our county and last year the response was over whelming,” Fields said. “All of our children were adopted and different groups sponsored toy drives to collect items that we could distribute to our children.”
This year, while the department has had some participation, there are still some left that have not been adopted.
During the program’s early years, the department was dependent upon donations from different organizations and businesses like United Way, Wellman Oil Company and Star Communications. Last year, the department decided to be soliciting the help of the community.
“We were amazed by the outpouring of community support,” Fields explained. “We had individuals such as Curt and Lynn Pritchard that sponsored a toy drive for our children, Smithfield farms provided toys and we had different schools and churches purchase items for many children and so many others really stepped up to help. It was heartwarming to see the support.”
This year, DSS took the same approach, and although there have been businesses, individuals and churches who have made monetary donations, the agency continues to look for families to adopt the adults and children who have yet to be adopted.
The toy drive held by the Pritchards at Lakewood Country Club was held last weekend, and helped provide many toys to younger children, but many of the donations are not geared towards the older foster children and adult wards.
Fields said items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, aftershave, razors, Vaseline, baby power, socks and underwear are still needed for the adults and foster children. The agency also needs large Christmas gift bags to use when giving out the presents.
“This program benefits so many elderly and disabled adults, as well as children that can not be with their families at Christmas,” Fields said about donating. “Christmas is about the spirit of giving and the fact the community is willing to come together and provide gifts to help make Christmas special for people they may never meet, demonstrates the spirit of Christmas in it’s purest form.”
Christmas Cheer donations will be distributed to the foster parents during the annual Christmas party Dec. 15 at the Sampson County Department of Social Services. During this party, the children and foster parents of the county enjoy refreshments and entertainment.
If someone is interested in donating to the Christmas Cheer program, they can call Fields, Dene Johnston or Tracey Odom at Sampson County DSS at 910-592-7131. Monetary donations will be accepted through next week, but officials would like all purchased items to be given by Friday.