While 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, the Christmas season can be especially difficult for children in foster care. That’s why Portage County Job & Family Services (PCJFS) is seeking your help in providing a memorable and magical Christmas for the 200 Portage County children currently living in foster care placements this season. Your gift of unwrapped gifts, gift cards and monetary donations can help make this holiday season a lot brighter for deserving kids throughout the community. And knowing you’re helping deliver a brighter Christmas to deserving kids in your community can help make your holidays a bit brighter, too.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our need to stay safe, PCJFS will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive-Through this Saturday, December 5 from 10AM-2PM at the Portage County Administration Building (449 S. Meridian Street in Ravenna). When you arrive, masked PCJFS representatives will be on site to safely accept unwrapped gift donations. They’ll be able to provide you with a written acknowledgement for your charitable contribution, and then send you safely on your way. If you’d prefer to send gift cards or monetary donations, you may mail them to: Portage County Job and Family Services c/o Fiscal – Presents for Kids at 449 S. Meridian St. Ravenna, Ohio, 44266.
Dr. Kellijo Jeffries, Director of Portage County Job & Family Services explained, “Christmas is a challenging time for children in foster care who long to be with their biological families during the holidays.” She continued, “It is especially challenging during times of a pandemic where children are experiencing increased anxiety and depression associated with the risk of COVID-19. Receiving gifts this holiday season is especially helpful and will help to provide a magical Christmas.”
PCJFS Public Information Officer Kimberly McClendon shared, “Our kids range from infants to 18 years-of-age, so any variety of donation would be gladly accepted. A lot of our older kids tend to ask for gift cards to purchase clothing, with Target and Walmart gift cards especially appreciated. Our younger kids tend to ask for age-specific and educational toys,” she explained. “Ben10 items are especially popular among our younger kids requests this year,” she added.
Local businesses, including Huntington Bank of Kent, generously sponsored children this year. If your family or organization would like to sponsor a specific child or children, contact McClendon. And if you’re unable to attend Saturday’s Toy Drive-Through, but still want to donate a gift or sponsor a child, contact Kim McClendon for more information at (330) 357-7190 or Kim.McClendon@jfs.ohio.gov.
“We’re grateful for your consideration and wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season,” Jeffries remarked.
