A Season of Giving: LIFE Brings Smiles to Michigan’s Foster Children

What many Americans have coined as "the most wonderful time of the year" can actually be particularly difficult for some of the country's most vulnerable children. For children who have entered foster care, the holiday season can be a reminder of all they have lost and the family they are separated from. Separated from family, uncertain about the future, and adjusting to new surroundings, they often miss the customs and traditions that other children enjoy and take for granted. That's why Life for Relief and Development, in partnership with Michigan Foster Care Closet, set out to bring joy to hundreds of children in foster care for Christmas.

On December 14, 2024, the Michigan Foster Care Closet hosted a holiday party in Ann Arbor, bringing joy to 230 children in foster care and their foster families. Life for Relief and Development sponsored a heart-warming sibling gift exchange, allowing each child to choose something special for a sibling or loved one. Not only did the children thoughtfully select gifts for their siblings, but they also took great pride in wrapping each one and decorating handmade cards, turning the experience into a joyful celebration of giving. The room was filled with laughter, creativity, and the kind of joy that sticks with you long after the party ends.

In America, there are approximately 350,000 children in foster care at any given time, according to the most recent federal data. Sadly, all of these children have undergone some form of trauma. These children are placed in care because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents or guardians, but hope for eventual reunification with their parents or adoption. In other respects, foster children are exactly like non-foster children. They are curious and growing, they enjoy playing and being with kids their age, and they require the love and safety a permanent home would provide.

For children in foster care, giving a gift is about more than a holiday tradition; it’s a chance to stay connected to their family and show they care, even when their circumstances are difficult.

Any toys that weren’t used during the event have been set aside in MFCC’s toy room, ready to bring joy and solace to children entering foster care in the coming year.

We are so grateful for your partnership and hope you'll continue to stand with us. Your support brought happiness and love to a group of young people who needed it most.