Foster Families Walk, Drive Through Reverse Christmas Party

December 23, 2020

Volunteers from Guardians for New Futures and CCKids check in gifts during a toy drive that spanned three weeks, four counties, and more than 100 sponsors. In total, the Angel Gift Drive - which absorbed CCKids' Making Christmas Bright project this year - collected, loaded, unloaded, checked, sorted, and organized about 4,000 gifts and served nearly 2,000 children, including 1,100 from the CCKids' system of care.

 

St. Lucie West

Like most things this year, annual foster family Christmas celebrations are taking new form.

That was the case in St. Lucie County Saturday, when the St. Lucie County Foster Parent Association, together with volunteers from the Surfside Church, coordinated a reverse - or drive through - Christmas party for local caregivers and the children they love.

More than 60 children and their foster families registered to attend the event, which they walked through or drove through.

"Camelot Community Care started off the line with hot chocolate and candy cane spoons," said Rose Bailey, an adoptive mom and CCKids foster parent mentor.

"There were several stations where children could stop to receive books, bubbles and goodie bags - all masked, and all socially distanced."

COVID could not break a 16-year tradition in Vero Beach, either. The Junior League of Indian River County, which has hosted an annual Christmas party for local caregivers since 2004, continued its tradition with a similar drive-through party.

"It was a wonderful event, and each family received a dinner to go," said Jill Poole, CCKids licensing and caregiver support director who helped coordinate the event.