For many children in foster care and families struggling to make ends meet, Christmas can be a time of uncertainty and hopelessness. But every year the Family Care Network partners with the Central Coast community to provide those we serve with a unique Christmas celebration, working together to restore hope and create lasting memories.

The Sponsor a Child for Christmas gift gathering effort involves Family Care Network children, youth and families writing out their Christmas wishes on Wish List cards. These cards are then distributed throughout the Central Coast, enabling community members to select Wish List cards to fulfill. People often partner with their friends, family and co-workers in the purchasing of presents. Gift wishes include anything from new shoes for a foster child, toddler clothes for a teen mom or gift cards for household supplies for a family. Once a Wish List card has been fulfilled, all unwrapped gifts are delivered to a Family Care Network office to be wrapped and then distributed to recipients prior to Christmas Day.

In addition to the Sponsor a Child for Christmas effort, the agency also hosts two Annual Holiday Open House events, one for San Luis Obispo County and one for Santa Barbara County. Both events enable every child, youth and family served by the agency to participate in a truly magical Christmas celebration. The agency again partners with the Central Coast community to provide guests holiday treats, as well as child-friendly activities such as face painting, balloon animas and sugar cookie decorating. Guests also enjoy getting their pictures taken with Santa Claus and live performances. The Annual Holiday Open House events are open to the public and provide the community a great way to personally connect and impact the Christmas experience of someone in need.

For more information on how you can participate in the agency’s Sponsor a Child for Christmas and/or the agency’s Annual Holiday Open House events, please contact us at (805) 781-3535 or email us.