Donations collected by Hillcrest Church and Hillcrest Preschool for Chautauqua County foster families include handmade holiday cards, blankets, toys and more. The donations were distributed to more than 40 families.

During the holidays, the Chautauqua County’s Department of Social Services received a large donation from the Hillcrest Church and Hillcrest Preschool.

Donations collected by the congregation and preschool students were specifically aimed at supporting local foster families, bringing joy and comfort to children in care while underscoring the ongoing need for foster homes in the county.

“We received an abundance of donations made by members of the congregation and students of the preschool,” said Audra Moeller, senior caseworker for the county’s Home Finding Team. “The contributions included handmade holiday cards, gift cards, blankets, stuffed animals, hygiene items, books, toys, games, hats, scarves, gloves, Bibles, and gift bags to package the items. These heartfelt donations were collected with our Chautauqua County foster families in mind. It was such a heartwarming outpouring of support for our local foster families, who sacrifice so much on a daily basis for the youth in our county.”

One particularly touching moment was shared by the preschool director, who recounted a story of a young student bringing in a stuffed animal she cherished. Before placing it under the Christmas tree where donations were collected, the child hugged and kissed the toy and said, “I filled him with love; he’s ready to go.”

Mark Hinman, Hillcrest Church’s lead pastor, said “Anything we can do to encourage more support for foster families is a win.”

The Hillcrest donation provided extra holiday joy to more than 40 foster families. Chautauqua County currently has 66 certified foster homes, consisting of 45 regular, non-relative homes and 21 kinship homes. Kinship homes are those where the caregivers have a pre-existing relationship with or are relatives of the child in care.

Foster homes provide critical care for children in the custody of the Commissioner of Social Services. Foster care offers temporary, safe, and nurturing environments for children who have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, or other family challenges that endanger their safety. These children range from infancy to 18 years of age and may have special medical, physical, or emotional needs. Sibling groups are often placed together to maintain familial bonds.

County residents who want to support families by becoming a foster parent can attend the county’s next foster parent orientation Monday, Feb. 3, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Bemus Point Methodist Church, 4954 Bemus-Ellery Road, Bemus Point. Registration is not required, and attendees may drop in at any time to speak with staff and learn more about fostering. Chautauqua County’s foster care program is all-inclusive, and events are free and open to the public.

Those interested but unable to attend on Feb. 3 can email Audra Moeller at moellera@chqgov.com or call 716-661-8212. More information is also available at chqgov.com/humansocial-services/foster-home-finding. The next series of pre-service foster parent classes is scheduled to begin at the end of February in the Jamestown area.