Safe Children Coalition provides holiday gifts

For many families in our area, the holidays are a time of great excitement and joy, with presents, delicious meals, and time spent with family and friends. However, for foster parents, children in foster care, and other vulnerable children, the holidays can be a stressful time. Some foster children may never have even experienced a real holiday celebration.

The Safe Children Coalition's Angels program works to ensure that foster and other vulnerable children in Florida's Circuit 12 (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties) feel the warmth of the holiday season through the donation of holiday gifts from caring members of the community. The program matches sponsors to children's gift wish lists. This year, over 1,000 children received holiday gifts thanks to more than 100 individual donors and corporate/organization groups.

The children who received holiday gifts included those in foster care, homeless children benefiting from SCC’s Schoolhouse Link program and residing at SCC’s Youth Shelter, youths in prevention programs like HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) and the Achievers teen leadership program, SCC’s Youth Prevention Services, and more.

"The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity for caring members of our community to give back to the most vulnerable members of our community," said Safe Children Coalition President and CEO, Brena Slater. "For foster children and other youth – who have been through so much in their young lives – even a little kindness and compassion can go such a long way. Each year, the children and their caregivers are so grateful that people cared to share the joy of the season with them."

Safe Children Coalition served nearly 9,700 children in foster care and adoptions, and prevention and diversion programs, in fiscal year 2023. More than 1,500 children were served in licensed foster care and out-of-home care placements in our community in FY23.

For more about SCC, visit sccfl.org.

About Safe Children Coalition, Inc.
Safe Children Coalition, Inc. (SCC) serves as the lead agency for community-based care for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. SCC is a collaboration between local community agencies that provide services to children and families in need. SCC is committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building community. The core functions provided by SCC include child welfare case management, foster care, adoption, independent living, prevention, diversion, quality management, and support services as well as other social service programs. Visit sccfl.org or call 941-371-4799.