Outpouring of Generosity Brightens Holiday Season for Texas' Most Vulnerable Citizens

Becky Johnson, a board member of Partnerships for Children, hands off a gift destined for a child in CPS care to Brenda Jones, coordinator of Austin's Rainbow Room.

They say a little kindness goes a long way. In communities across Texas, the holiday season is sparking the generosity of the human spirit. As a result, some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens—children, the elderly, and people with disabilities—are feeling some much needed holiday cheer.

• In the Austin area, Partnerships for Children has collected thousands of holiday presents for children in the state’s care due to abuse or neglect. Some 200 caseworkers are in the process of distributing these gifts to about 2,400 children.
• In DFPS’ Abilene and Midland Regions, about 50 Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworkers are distributing gifts to about 650 clients thanks to partnerships with area banks and their customers.
• In Beaumont, Domino’s Pizza is encouraging customers to donate a toy to get a free pizza.
• In a Borger hospital, a Christmas tree is adorned with ornaments listing the names and wish lists of APS clients.

Despite an uncertain economy, support and enthusiasm appear to be as strong as ever. As Texans are finding out, it doesn’t take a lot to make a difference in the lives of those who may not have a lot but are grateful for what they have.

Wishes Do Come True

"We may not get to see the smile of the children's faces, but we get to see the smiles on the caseworkers' faces," says Becky Johnson, a board member of Partnerships for Children, a non-profit organization that supports Child Protective Services (CPS). "It's a big deal for the workers to see the children happy."

Johnson said that although there were a lot of requests for toys, the youngest kids and teens often ask for clothes. "For the most part, kids have very general requests, sometimes it's for something specific--like a pair of Nike shoes or a gift card for a certain store."

A gift sits at a centralized sorting and distribution enter where a caseworker can pick it to deliver to a child in foster care.

Collecting and distributing holiday gifts for thousands of CPS children in the Austin area is a major undertaking. Back in September and October, children filled out wish lists with two or three gifts and gave them to their caseworkers, who passed along the information to Partnerships for Children who went out in the community to find the gifts. Congregants at the Riverbend Church donated enough gifts for 1,200 children through their "Angels Afoot" program.

When the holiday season is over, Partnerships for Children and others will continue collecting items for children in foster care. "We support the Rainbow Room year round, a Fall Festival, and the Youth Empowerment and Success mentoring program."

Brenda Jones, who has been coordinator of the Austin Rainbow Room for six years, describes the facility as a large storage area set up like a store where caseworkers can get a variety of items for children in foster care. "It has everything. Hygiene products, household items, toys, luggage, car seats, playpens--anything a child needs when removed from a home," she says. "Of the 30 counties in Region 7, we have 25 Rainbow Rooms. On a weekly basis, Wal-Mart donates diapers, underwear, and socks. The Post Office gives us tons of milk. If one Rainbow Room has a surplus, it shares its resources with an area that is not as fortunate. Partnerships for Children helps not only Travis County but Bastrop, Williamson, Hays, and Bell counties. They are blessed to be able to share their resources."

Johnson says if children need something that is not in the Rainbow Room, they can fill out a special request. "We cannot grant all requests, but if there's a critical need we try our best. For example, sometimes, children or their foster parents cannot afford to go to summer camp or church trips or things like cleats for playing football."

Jones says every little bit helps. "If you’re a foster parent caring for six or seven children, that’s a lot of gifts. If we can help them out, we will. We have so many nice stories of appreciative children and caregivers.  Wishes do come true."

Elderly Are Not Forgotten

Children are not the only ones who need some holiday cheer. Many people who are elderly or have disabilities have limited resources and ability to get out and about. Because many families are separated by long distances nowadays, these vulnerable adults may be isolated from loved ones, which is especially difficult during the holidays.

"Our clients who are elderly or have disabilities are not forgotten," says Tommy Reed, APS Regional Director for Regions 2/9 (Abilene/Midland). "Fortunately, there are several projects throughout our region to help our clients."

According to Jodi Pruitt, APS community initiative specialist for Regions 2/9, each of the projects basically works the same. "A sponsoring organization such as a bank hosts a special tree that has ornaments, stars, or candy canes on it and on those objects are lists of items our clients can use. They could be something like a blanket, heater, slippers, or robe. Then, people come in to the bank, take a star off the tree, purchase that item, and bring it back. We collect all the items and then distribute them to our APS clients."

Western National Bank has trees in Big Spring, Midland, and Odessa. In San Angelo, APS has partnered with the Bank of San Angelo. In Abilene, there is "Be a Santa to a Senior," which is a partnership with Home Instead, a home health care agency. In Wichita Falls, there is the Tree of Life program, which is a partnership with the Texoma Community Credit Union. In Vernon, there is the Candy Cane Project.

Pruitt says throughout the year, APS caseworkers try to keep lists of items that clients need or request. Then when the holidays come around, they submit those lists to staff who try to find sources. "Generally, our clients need blankets, portable heaters, coats, personal hygiene, and robes. For some of our clients with disabilities, they have children and may have limited income or a tough time getting out, so we get toys for the children."

In the off holiday season, APS caseworkers can get items to client through resource rooms that are similar to the CPS Rainbow Rooms. Depending on the part of the state, these resources rooms go by different names such as Bridge Rooms, Silver Star Rooms, and Silver Ribbon Rooms.

"Resource rooms are stocked throughout the year by community partner boards, community donations, grants that are specifically labeled for items, and fundraising efforts by the boards," says Pruitt. "In our region, the resource rooms are called Bridge Rooms. Currently there are three rooms supported by the Abilene board, four supported by the Midland board, and San Angelo recently started a board and opened a room."

How Can I Donate to DFPS Clients During the Holidays and Year Round?

Any DFPS office can accept community donations on behalf of clients, and many offices have organized resource rooms to distribute these items.

To find out how you can help, contact the DFPS Volunteer Services Coordinator nearest you. For a list of local DFPS offices, visit our DFPS Office web page.

Frequently needed items include:

• New clothing, diapers, toiletries, school supplies, and formula for children.
• Ensure, adult diapers, toiletries, and gently used walkers and wheelchairs for elderly and disabled adults.