Lead Agency Has Been Making Christmas Bright for Children in Foster Care for More than 20 years

November 30, 2022

By Christina Kaiser -

More than 50 local businesses and community groups are coming together this holiday season to provide gifts to the more than 1,000 children in CCKids' child welfare community of care.

None of it would be possible without Guardians for New Futures, the drive's largest contributor and CCKids' partner in the 2022 holiday toy drive.

"The Guardians organize the project, provide volunteers and fulfill any outstanding gift requests for children in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties," said Christina Kaiser, CCKids director of community relations.

Most of the nearly 1,100 children receiving services from the child-welfare system will receive 2-3 gifts each, Kaiser said.

The oldest sponsors include St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and the Retired Educators of St. Lucie County, which began collecting gifts for children in foster care when the project was still under the umbrella of the local Department of Children and Families.

New sponsors this year include Bright Futures Lab and Hometown News, which has helped advertised the project for nearly 20 years.
Other sponsors this year include: Translations USA, Kappa Kappa Iota, St. Andrew's Lutheran, Berry Fresh, First Presbyterian Church of Port St. Lucie,

The Grove Church, Pursuit Boats, Clark Advanced Learning, First United Methodist, La Buona Vita, Unity of Fort Pierce, Unity of Jensen Beach, Seacoast Bank, Treasure Coast Builders Association, Port St. Lucie High School JROTC, Sungrove Montesori, and Florida Highway Patrol.

We are still in need of toys for children of all ages. If you belong to a group interested in donating collected toys, please see the flyer below and contact Jordan.Bebout@CCKids.net.