If you have been on the internet during the last couple of weeks, its likely you have seen the phrase, “Happy Hallowthanksmas.” The holiday season is coming in hot– but how does that impact the 7,000 children in the foster care system in WV. 

Amidst the business of this season, it can be easy to forget about some of the prominent issues of our region. 

According to an article by Dr. John N. DeGarmo, Ed.D. for Foster Focus, a magazine devoted to covering the foster care, the holidays can be a season especially difficult for foster children when it comes to settling in to a new home and environment. 

“During this time of Holiday Cheer, many foster children are faced with the realization that they will not be “home for the holidays,” so to speak, with their biological family members. When they wake up Christmas morning, and are surrounded by people who just may be strangers to them, strangers who are laughing and having fun, it can be a very difficult time for them, indeed.”

Dr. John N. DeGarmo, Ed.D.

With the upcoming holidays, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, many children also feel guilt associated with enjoying the festivities without their birth parents, according to the article. 

With this in mind, imagine how the holiday season goes for those children who are in a state like WV where we are extremely understaffed and have a limited number of resources within the field. 

One way to give back this season is through KVC West Virginia, a non-profit organization that is seeking Holiday Heroes. You just fill out their Holiday Hero signup form and you will receive a child’s wish list. 

If you do not have extra cash to spend this holiday season, another way to give back is through AmazonSmile. It is the same website as Amazon, except it allows for a certain amount of your proceeds to go to an organization of your choosing. You can select KVC Behavioral Healthcare West Virginia as your charitable organization.