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For many families, the holiday season means shopping lists, wrapping paper, and last-minute errands. But for thousands of kids in Utah’s foster care system, Christmas can feel very different. That is why nonprofit Raise the Future teamed up with volunteers and donors to sponsor hundreds of youth this year, making sure kids in foster care have gifts under the tree and a reason to feel remembered. Aria Williams is a Youth Connections Advocate with Raise the Future. She says this effort is about more than presents, it’s about dignity, connection, and belonging. “It’s always super fun to watch kids get gifts that they deserve,” Williams said. “And it’s so fun to see the generosity of people in the community really coming together to get kids what they want.” Right now, there are nearly 3,000 children in Utah’s foster care system, and many of the youth Raise the Future works with often lack long-term stability. “The kids I work with are the kids who’ve been in foster care the longest,” Williams said. “They don’t always have lifelong supports, and they don’t always have that stability.” The Sub for Santa event is meant to offer something many of these children don’t often experience. “That’s why I love doing this Christmas thing,” Williams said. “Because it gives them that sense of normalcy.”
A community effort to give back
The donation drive began November first. Since then, donors across the state, from large companies to individual sponsors, have stepped up to sponsor more than 500 youth. SME Steel filled a company bus with presents, all matched to individual wish lists. Tyler Broadbent, Chief Human Resources Officer at SME Steel, said supporting foster youth was an easy decision for the company. “These gifts are going to children who don’t have many second chances in life,” Broadbent said. “Many of them are kind of in the middle of the system where they’re stuck between being adopted and not being able to be adopted. So to be able to participate and give back to them in this way is huge to SME.” Raise the Future works directly with each child to create a personalized wish list based on what they actually want. “Teenagers really love baggy clothes,” Williams said. “A lot of my kids want really oversized hoodies and pants, it’s just what’s in style right now.” For some youth, even being asked what they want takes reassurance. “I don’t think a lot of them have been asked what they want in a long time,” Williams said. “So it’s fun to give them that opportunity and really say, ‘tell me what you want. Be specific’.” When that trust is built, the response is immediate, she said. “They get really excited,” Williams said. “I tell them, dream big, and we’ll try our best.” Ultimately, the hope is simple: that every child feels loved, cared for, and celebrated, especially during the holidays. “Every child deserves every Christmas to have things to open and to celebrate,” Williams said.
How to help
Raise the Future says the need doesn’t end after the holidays. If you’d like to donate money, physical items, or your time, or to learn more about foster care, visit the Raise the Future website.
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