OLATHE, Kan. — KVC Health Systems is making the holidays a little brighter for foster kids in Kansas.
As part of its "Holiday Heroes" program, it is asking for gift donations for kids and teens.
Volunteers bag them, load them up and take them all over the state. The program donates more than 21,000 toys, clothes, games and gift cards to more than 3,300 teens and kids in the state.
Director of Communications Megan Maciel said the holidays can be a challenging time for kids in the foster care system.
"Maybe it's a child in foster care that's moved several times, we have lots of our little ones in foster care that wonder if Santa will be able to find them," Maciel said.
For Cara Hampton, her husband, and their five adopted children, the gesture goes a long way. The Overland Park family received gifts for their kids from KVC while they were fostering them.
"I know what KVC does and what the volunteers at KVC do with those Christmas gifts helps a lot," Cara Hampton said.
Hampton said she and her husband decided to foster kids to help other local families who were struggling.
"We have a heart for our city," Cara Hampton said.
Their 11-year-old daughter, Emily, said she remembers the uncertainty she felt in foster care even as a little girl.
"It's scary, I mean you're moving house to house every night," Emily said.
Cara Hampton said she hopes to encourage other families to think about fostering children and to take advantage of the resources available.
"If you've ever considered it, I would say take the classes, just go take the classes, it doesn't commit you to anything," Cara Hampton said. "You don't have to be a special kind of person to be a foster parent. Kids all need the same thing, which is love and significance and stability."
If you would like to donate gifts or money to KVC Health Systems you can go to kvckansas.org and click on 'Holiday Heroes.'
