Trinity United Methodist wraps up toy drive for children in foster care
Gainesville’s Trinity United Methodist Church has seen to it that thousands of children got precisely what they wanted for Christmas since 1992 by working with the Guardian Ad Litem, a group of court-appointed special advocates for up to 400 regional foster care children.
The advocates are the child’s voice in a conversation among the child’s family members, foster care providers, attorneys and social workers. In December, the child’s voice is loud and clear when it comes to their Christmas list, with the guardians asking them what they want from Santa.
Nearly three decades ago, then-GAL guardian Jean Evans and the director of children’s ministry told the local congregation about GAL. The church has given every December since, according to Brian Wittstruck, director of Trinity United Methodist’s Church Children and Family Ministries.
Now, the unexplainable joy of giving still inspires Trinity to make Dec. 25 an unforgettable time of the year for less-fortunate youth.
“Each child receives three gifts from a wish list they put together with their guardian when they meet,” he said of the 175 children the church sponsored this year. “We have a very generous congregation, and it’s just awesome.”
After Trinity members receive the wish list, they shop for the children. For congregants who cannot, Angela Dennis, the church’s early childhood coordinator, takes on the role of lead elf, among other volunteers.
From overseeing each child’s list to writing out gift tags, Dennis is a driving force behind making sure Trinity’s gifts brim over bags. Since GAL manages youth from infants to 17 years old, some gifts are easier to wrap than others. Teenagers often ask for gift cards.
Though this time of year commemorates the birth of a savior, Wittstruck said he is unsure if the children in the GAL program know Jesus or not. However, they all will know Trinity’s love for them.
Not only do congregants purchase and wrap each child’s gifts, like Santa, they deliver.
“They all came with us today to deliver all the presents, so they got to experience that firsthand,” he said of the Giving Tuesday drop-off on Nov. 30.
While the presents handed off to GAL by Trinity make a marked difference each December, it is the 365-day program that gives abandoned children a fighting chance. Adolescents in GAL who have a guardian are more likely to be adopted and half as likely to re-enter foster care. In the end, giving these children a little more faith and fight is all that matters.
“As a Christian educator this time of year, I teach about the hope of Christ, the hope of the Baby Jesus coming to us as the savior of the world,” he said. “We are all children of God, and everyone deserves a Christmas.”
Trinity feels so strongly about the annual giving, Wittstruck said elf Dennis and the incredible group of volunteers with Trinity’s Children and Family Ministry are ready to raise the gift bar from 175 gifts annually to 200 next year.
“I want all children to experience Christmas,” he said.
By Angela Underwood
