Covington County DHR has been working with foster families to give foster children the same kind of Christmas that birth children get.

Natalie Pinson of DHR said that the department has been working with the community to get support for the children of whom DHR has custody.

“The children who are involved in child protective service cases and who remain with their family are referred to Community Christmas, which is a great help,” she said. “We have several Sunday school classes and groups who sponsor our children not only at Christmas but throughout the year for birthdays and special occasions.”

Pinson said she had a teen who wanted Rainbow flip-flips for her birthday.

“Her sponsor bought her flip-flips and is also sponsoring her for Christmas,” she said.

Pinson said that the DHR children may have large items on their Christmas lists.

“It’s more of a support to our foster parents because they need to still buy for their family as they usually do,” she said. “So, if they purchase their birth child an iPod, we all try to work together to get the foster child one also.”

Pinson said the goal is to make sure that foster children are treated just like everyone else on Christmas morning.

“When Lesa (Syler) came to DHR as director, she insisted that we try to get most of the things on their lists because that is how she treats her own children,” she said. “She personalized their names on things just like she did for her own children. She sets a high standard for Christmas for these children and the social workers for the children work hard to get the job done.”

Pinson said providing Christmas like this, gives foster children a sense that they belong.

“So it is more than just a present to not only them, but to us, too,” she said. “For many of them, this is their first Christmas away from their birth family.”

Pinson said the children asked for wide variety of items.

“From cork bulletin boards, straightening irons, dance party cubes, iPods, skateboards, walkie talkies, remote control helicopters, pillow buddies, electronic dictionaries, Bath and Body Works, camouflage jackets, and more,” she said. “We mostly just want to thank the community – we couldn’t do it without them. They have been very flexible and understanding.”