KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Christmas season is all about giving back, and this year, Fostering Hope Tennessee is asking for help fulfilling some Christmas wishes.
Fostering Hope is a nonprofit that was created to help children in the foster care system feel a sense of hope and self-worth. For 10 years they have worked with foster children in partnership with the Department of Children's Services.
After seeing children move from home to home with trash bags of belongings, they knew there was a better way.
"I'm a social worker, I was seeing these kids move home to home with trash bags, and it was just heartbreaking," Chante Hensley, executive director of Fostering Hope, said. "So my grandparents stepped in to help, we gave away a hundred backpacks and suitcases almost immediately, and they're like, 'Okay, we need more!'"
In addition to backpacks and suitcases, they offer toys and birthday presents. They help children aging out of foster care with supplies they need to begin their lives on their own.
Fostering Hope is hoping to fulfill 50 children's wishes for the holiday. Some of those wishes include clothes, shoes and baby essentials. They said these presents are for "specific foster and kinship children who are in the most need this holiday season."
If you'd like to donate, you can purchase those gifts by viewing their Amazon wishlist. Items can be directly sent to Fostering Hope.
Or, if you have time, you can also volunteer this season. Fostering Hope will be hosting a holiday party on Saturday, Dec. 7. If you would like to volunteer, you can direct message the nonprofit on Facebook.