Safe Children Coalition provides holiday gifts for hundreds of foster kids

For many families in our area, the holidays are a time of great excitement and joy, with presents, delicious meals, and time spent with relatives and friends. However, for foster parents and other vulnerable families, the holidays can be a stressful time – especially now, with economic conditions such as surging prices and continued inflation stretching already tight budgets. Additionally, there are some foster children who may never have experienced a real holiday celebration – ever.

The Safe Children Coalition's Angels (SCC 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 members of the community. The program matches sponsors – compassionate, caring individuals as well as entire teams from numerous area businesses – to children's gift wish lists.

Through the SCC Angels program this year, by the time the final present will have been distributed, SCC will have provided nearly 900 children with holiday gifts.

The children who will receive gifts through the SCC Angels program include 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.

Lakewood Ranch-based business OnPlace Collective participated in the SCC Angles program for the third time this year. They started in 2023 by fulfilling 10 gift lists, doubled that number to 20 in 2024, and this year fulfilled 40 gift lists. They plan to continue levelling up in future years.

“When I began OnPlace Collective, one of my personal goals was to earn more to give more,” OnPlace President and CEO Monaca S. Onstad said. “We chose the Safe Children Coalition’s Angels program as our major charity because every child deserves to feel the Christmas spirit, and to know that they are loved.”

Onstad and her husband were introduced to SCC when they began their journey to expand their family through adoption. In August of 2021, their lives were forever changed when they were blessed with a beautiful boy that they have since adopted. When Onstad founded OnPlace in 2022, choosing the SCC Angels program as its charity of choice felt deeply personal and meaningful.

“The children in the Safe Children Coalition program are going through the toughest time of their lives. Some have been separated from parents who abuse them or choose drugs over them. Some have parents who have passed away,” Onstad said. ”Giving back to the organization that played such an important role in our family’s story is truly priceless. Every child deserves to feel special, cherished, and loved – and to experience the magic of the holidays. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help sprinkle a little of that magic.”

OnPlace has a sizable team of employees who enjoy acting as the shopping elves; Monaca's husband, Eric, delivers all of the gifts. This year, Onstad also gave the team the opportunity to purchase Christmas pajamas for each child because, as she says, “Every child needs new pajamas for Santa’s arrival!”

"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," added Safe Children Coalition President and CEO, Brena Slater. "Each year, the children and their caregivers are so grateful that people cared enough to share the joy of the season with them."

In fiscal year 2025, Safe Children Coalition served over 10,000 children in foster care and adoptions, and prevention and diversion programs. Nearly 1,700 children in our community were served in licensed foster care and out-of-home care placements.

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.