Christmas of Hope shopping day proves to be huge success

Christmas of Hope is a program that allows our community to come alongside and support foster families in our area by helping to provide gifts for the children in their care. While one of the goals of Christmas of Hope is to support these families by easing the financial burden that often comes at this time of year, the primary mission is to show these children and families that they are loved and supported by their community.

This year the 4-states area raised enough money to provide more than 600 local foster kids the Christmas they deserve. The original goal was to raise about $50 for each local foster child, but Sarah Burch, the executive director of Fostering Hope, noted the money they raised this year exceeded expectations.

“Because of the generosity of our community we get to spend between 55 and 60 dollars per each child…and that goes a long ways. We are hoping to really bless these kids this year.” Burch told Newstalk KZRG.

Fostering Hope partners with One Church of Joplin to help provide foster kids with a wonderful Christmas. One Church of Joplin’s lead pastor, Shane Munn, told Newstalk KZRG following the shopping day the church hosts a pick up party.

“We used to deliver the gifts, but that’s quite an ordeal. So now we do a pick up party. In the auditorium there will be crafts, cookie decorating, Santa, the Grinch, they will have Christmas movies on, food, things like that. So the kids get a Christmas party while parents are there to pick up gifts.”