Child Welfare Board press release
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But for some children from Henderson County it can be the most difficult time of the year. Children that have been placed in foster care due to allegations of abuse and neglect often struggle for a sense of normalcy around Christmas time.
You can help! The Henderson County Child Welfare Board in association with Nexus Fostering Essex sponsors an Angel Tree which will be on display at First State Bank here in Athens. This particular tree is unique and distinguishable from others within the community because it only includes children who are involved with Child Protective Services from Henderson County. The tree is currently up in the lobby of the downtown branch of First State Bank. Individuals or groups can sponsor an angel and help try to make Christmas a little more normal for these children. The Board will even take donations and shop for you if you don’t have time during the busy holiday season. This is a wonderful way to give back to children in need and is an excellent activity for the whole family. What could be a better way to get into the Christmas spirit? Without help from the community, these kids would get little or no Christmas, and so this is our attempt to provide at least some level of normalcy to their lives.
Justin Weiner, a Henderson County Assistant District Attorney who serves as Chairman of the Henderson County Child Welfare Board, is urging the community to get involved with the Angel Tree.
“This is a wonderful and easy way for our community to make a huge impact in the lives Henderson County foster children,” he said. “Each and every one of these children deserves to be able to celebrate the holidays. Please help us in our efforts to ensure that they will.”
Come by the lobby at First State Bank located on the square across from the Court House during normal lobby hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Board asks that all purchased presents be returned by Dec. 13. This allows for the Board to make sure that presents get to the children on time.
The Henderson County Child Welfare Board’s mission is to support a network of volunteers and Child Protective Services workers from child hunger organizations who are concerned with the welfare of children, especially those suffering from abuse and neglect. Its purpose is to function as a liaison between the community and the Texas Department of Family and Child Protective Services.
Please help spread the word to anyone in the community who may be interested in helping to make Christmas for these children a little brighter and a little more normal.
My mom is a foster parent and the caseworker said she sign up the kids for this program she showed up to the house but not nothing cheating even know if the kids got anything and if they did they said often might be one gift but I cannot make it until the 2nd of January she didn’t care about the kids and I know that you guys raise donations for this it would be nice if they got a toy and maybe choosing clothes so I didn’t sign up for any other program because of this