FINDLAY, Ohio — The holidays are meant to be the happiest time of the year, but for some children in our area, it can be quite the opposite.
Keeping Kids Safe, a Findlay-based nonprofit, helps reunite children with their families or helps place them in foster care.
Judith Hutton, who founded the organization 13 years ago, said kids especially need help during the holidays in ways people may not think of.
"They are basically brought with the clothes on their back and placed in care," she said. "A lot of times, the clothes they have are not technically ones that fit them and they may not be in the best of condition."
On average, Keeping Kids Safe serves 60-70 kids at any given time who are currently in the foster care system.
Hutton said most people don't realize how difficult life can be for young people who were taken from their homes and placed in the care of others.
Along with the emotional trauma, many kids are moved out so fast that they usually will have to bring all of their belongings with them in garbage bags.
"For a child to have to leave their home with all of their belongings in garbage bags can be embarrassing and really impact their sense of worth," said Ashley Bell, the executive director of Hancock County Court Appointed Special Advocates. "Sometimes they don't even have time to unpack those garbage bags before they are off to the next foster home."
Although many of the children were removed from homes that were deemed unsafe, the holidays can still cause homesick feelings for the kids who are in the care of others.
"Maybe their family didn't make the best choices, but that's their family and that's who they love," Hutton said. "The fact that they can't be with them definitely makes it more challenging, more emotional, more traumatic and difficult for them."
And the holidays can make dealing with that even more difficult.
"Holidays are more stressful for children in foster care because they are away from family and oftentimes placed somewhere they are unfamiliar," Bell said. "Children in foster care sometimes move homes often and it can be hard for them to feel a sense of stability any time but especially during the holidays."
Keeping Kids Safe is asking anyone who can help to donate to an adoption or foster care agency this holiday season. To donate to Keeping Kids Safe, click here.
A big gift would be some form of luggage to carry their things, but Hutton said the organization is always in need of arts and crafts supplies, clothes and toys.
"The older kids like to be able to purchase their own thing, so, Amazon gift cards, they like to shop at Walmart, Meijer, all those things are great ways to support. Toys, etcetera," she said.