The FCS Holiday Assistance program is a yearly initiative that brings joy and relief to 1,732 children and families in need who are served by Family & Children’s Services (FCS). Through the generosity of 232 donors, these families received gifts and essential items during the holiday season.
Many FCS clients face difficult choices in December. They want to celebrate with their children, but they have limited or no income to afford gifts. They may be tempted to neglect their bills to buy presents. The Holiday Assistance program aims to ease this burden for our most vulnerable families.
Donors could choose to give in two ways: Adopt-a-Family or contribute to the FCS Santa Shop. Each FCS caseworker and therapist identified clients who were in active treatment and needed holiday assistance. This year, 163 families (731 individuals) were matched with donors who adopted them.
Another 1,001 individuals (children and adults) benefited from the “Santa Shop,” a place where caseworkers could find items for their clients’ needs. This year, donors gave $13,177 and every cent of that money was used to buy items for struggling individuals. These items included 375 HUGS (hats, underwear, gloves, and socks), 80 books, 373 coats, and 1,150 toys and games.
A special thanks goes to this year’s annual donation by the Bike Club, Two Men and A Truck, and the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Foundation, who gave 240 bikes to children from the Child Abuse and Trauma Services program, the Early Childhood program, School-Based services, and the Women in Recovery program.
For the last 16 years, Tulsa Bike Club, Two Men and A Truck, the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Foundation, and others have kindly donated over 3,300 bicycles to children in FCS’s care.
We are deeply grateful to all the donors who made the holidays brighter and warmer for our clients. We sincerely thank all our supporters for their kindness.
If you want to make a difference all year long, please consider donating to FCS.
