It’s wish list season for 300 Tri-Cities foster care kids and others in need. How to help
Nearly 300 children and young adults in the Tri-Cities are living with foster families this holiday season.
Each will receive a mix of gifts reflecting what they need and what they want for Christmas if the Richland office of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) has its way.
Makenna Burmeister, manager of the office serving the Tri-Cities and Goldendale, invites would-be foster Santas to contact her to get started.
The agency gathers gifts and supplies year-round, but it is working on a Dec. 18 deadline for Christmas.
The department is the main clearinghouse for people who want to fulfill Christmas wishes for children in foster care.
Earlier this year, the mental health nonprofit Heads Up Tri-Cities notified supporters it would end its foster kids committee to focus on organizations that provide for unmet mental health needs in the community at large.
Those interested in sponsoring one or more children in foster care can reach Burmeister by calling the the Richland office, 509-585-3000. Ask for the office manager.
Burmeister said DCYF is grateful for any support for the children who are living away from their families.
While the holidays are a great time to support them, the office collects donations all year to meet needs as they arise when kids are removed from their homes. That can include children celebrating birthdays or children entering the system without any of personal belongings.
At the holidays, Burmeister keeps a spreadsheet of the children her office serves, as well as their personal wish lists.
Wish lists contain a mix of needs and wants. Needs include hygiene supplies, toiletries, clothing, socks, shoes, underwear and blankets. Wants include books, toys and even electronics.
Sponsors can spend as little or as much as they wish. There is no minimum or maximum. Sponsors can be individuals, families, organizations and businesses.
Burmeister said the need is greatest for those ages 12 to older teens up to age 20 in the extended foster care system. The older youth draw less attention than the younger ones but their needs are just as great, she said.
Top needs
- Hygiene items such as deodorant and lotions. The agency provides basic necessities, but donations ensure the child gets what they need as quickly as possible.
- Clothing: T-shirts, underwear, socks, shoes.
- Luggage: Duffel bags and suitcases. Kids often are forced to stuff their belongings into garbage bags or cardboard boxes.
Top wants
- Brand-name clothing and shoes. When shopping for older children, including teens, consider purchasing brand-name items. Kids may need shoes, but they want Nikes, she said. Kids living in foster care are as interested in those items as their peers.
- Books, electronics, dolls, infant sensory toys. Burmeister said they tend to be well stocked with items for toddlers, but they need gear for infants who come into its care as well.
Don’t expect to be given more than basic information about the children and their wish lists. DCYF cannot provide details that might reveal the identity of a child in its care.
It shares the child’s gender, age and size. Case workers encourage children to be specific about the items on their lists. So, if a child wants a Barbie, they may be asked to specify exactly which Barbie.
Otherwise, sponsors should make their best guess about fulfilling wishes.
Other places to donate
Giving Tree
Columbia Center mall in Kennewick is again hosting the Salvation Army’s annual Giving Tree program to support children living in low-income households.
You can pick a tag from the tree, which is in the commons area near Barnes & Noble. Tags provide the age, gender and wishes of the children.
Shoppers bring items back to the tree for distribution to needy families in the community. The program is also known as the Angel Tree.
Toys for Tots
Toys For Tots Tri-Cities, a joint venture of the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and JMS Construction in support of the U.S. Marine Corps giving program, is gathering toys through Nov. 30.
Drop off new, unwrapped toys at the Pasco chamber office, Speck Hyundai of Tri-Cities, Pasco Grocery Outlet, Magill’s, JMS Construction or the Red Lion Pasco.
Arrange pick ups by calling 509-460-1279.
This story was originally published November 28, 2023 at 5:00 AM.