By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON
Special to the Hays Post
With the holiday season in full swing, children across Northwest Kansas are looking forward to Christmas and the gifts they know will soon arrive.
However, for many foster children, Christmas is different. Many of the 200 foster children served by St. Francis Ministries in Ellis County and across Northwest Kansas have never received a Christmas gift.
Michele Eiland, a volunteer with St. Francis, acknowledges this fact is hard for most adults in this area to wrap their minds around.
But it is true.
That is why Eiland each year volunteers to help with St. Francis Ministries’ “Hope Tree Project.” From now until Friday, Dec. 6, St. Francis will collect gifts for these foster children in Ellis County and across Northwest Kansas. Their ages range from infant to age 17.
Four Hope Trees have been erected at Hays businesses. Each tree contains cards containing a “wish list” compiled by each child, their caseworkers, and their foster parents. Eiland said most of those “wish lists” include both toys and clothing.
Each card lists the child’s age, gender and, if clothing is needed, what kind(s) and size(s). Individuals are asked to take a card (or more than one) and purchase items from the list for that child. The ministry suggests a spending limit of $125 per child.
The four tree locations are KPRD Praise Radio, 709 Main St.; Thomsen Customs engravers, inside the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh St., No. 111; The Gamers Guild, 200 E. Eighth St.; and Aikido of Northwest Kansas, 208 E. Eighth St., No. 1.
Gifts should be returned unwrapped by Friday, Dec. 6, to the same location or to KPRD Praise Radio (see address above).
Eiland said, “Through no actions or decisions of their own, these children are not living with their parents. Many have never received any kind of gift, let alone a Christmas gift. When people purchase gifts that are on the wish list card, these children feel heard and important.”
The “Wrapping Extravaganza” to wrap the gifts for these 200 children will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 7, and from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak St. The community is invited to participate, but registration is requested to make sure there are enough wrapping supplies for everyone, Eiland said.
All wrapping supplies and gift tags will be provided. Eiland asked that people register by Friday, Dec. 6, by calling or texting her at 214-546-1974 and specifying the day and time they will help.
“The Wrapping Extravaganza is an opportunity to get your family, friends or social groups together and help out in the wrapping of these gifts,” Eiland said. “It is a great way for all ages to give back to others in the community with no monetary costs, only a few hours of your time.
“Both of these simple acts—the shopping and the wrapping—can and will make this Christmas holiday special for these special kids,” she added.