Foster children in Arizona need you this holiday season

The holidays are coming.

Imagine you are a foster child waking up in a strange bed, in a house full of people you don’t know.

You have no idea what’s going to happen next or when you will see your parents again.

You wonder, does this family celebrate my holiday? Will Santa be able to find me? Will I get presents this year?

Or imagine that you are a teenager without parents.

You have aged out of foster care and do not have a family of your own.

You are working and going to college, but money is tight, and you wonder how you are going to afford some of the necessities for your new apartment.

It would be nice to know that you are not forgotten.

These scenarios represent the circumstances for thousands of children in foster care right here in our state.

How can your business make a difference in a child's life this holiday season?

Every year, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) partners with Arizona businesses through its Giving Tree program.

The Giving Tree program allows members of the community to give back by purchasing gifts for children in foster care.

Participating businesses receive a Giving Tree poster with removable leaves that can placed in a business office or lobby.

Each leaf contains a child’s name, age, gender, sizes and wish list item.

Employees or clients can remove a leaf from the tree and purchase gifts with that child in mind.

DCS will make arrangements to pick up the items. Then, the gifts will be wrapped and delivered directly to the child through their DCS Case Manager.