Good Tidings Readers Bring

For the fourth year in a row, Urban Tulsa Weekly is proud to sponsor, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, "Christmas for Kids" to provide Christmas gifts for children and teenagers living in temporary and permanent foster care.

In 2007, through the generosity of countless donors, 1,451 Tulsa County children victimized by abuse and/or neglect and placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services had their Christmas wishes fulfilled. DHS will again partner with various Tulsa businesses and organizations in order to provide gifts for the children living in the Tulsa County Shelter, foster homes, group homes, in-patient settings, contracted settings and reunified homes.

UTW hopes to give, with support from our readers, at least 100 of those gifts. Last year, we were able to provide, through generous donations made by our readers, gifts for 150 children and additional gift certificates for teenagers and other children not on the list.

The gifts on the opposite page lists the Christmas wishes of children in permanent DHS foster care, aged infant to 18. This year, clothing items can only be purchased for children aged 0-24 months. All children aged 13 and older can receive a gift card (Visa or Mastercard work well because children can choose where to spend). Electronics can be purchased as long as they do not exceed the $50-60 spending limit.

Confidentiality requires that the children's names not be printed; numbers, instead, take their place. Choose one or two gifts to buy ($50-60 spending limit), then bring them to Urban Tulsa Weekly's office, 710 S. Kenosha.

Do not wrap the gift, but affix somewhere the number of the child for whom the gift is intended. The foster parents and group home workers enjoy wrapping these gifts and sharing a part of their children's Christmas joy.

Readers are also invited to buy non-specific but oft-requested gifts and bring them to our office unwrapped. These gifts can be used for "Christmas for Kids" and throughout the year for additional celebrations and occasions. For infants: activity walkers/saucers, tummy time mats, crib toys/mobiles, soft plastic or cloth books, rattles, teething rings, etc. For toddlers: small riding toys, musical toys, educational toys, puzzles, book, blocks, etc. For preschoolers: tricycles, educational toys, Legos, dress-up clothes, dolls, toy cars, crayons and coloring books, etc. For elementary children: bikes w/ safety gear, scooters, educational games, books, figurines, board games, sports equipment and balls, Barbies, handheld games, Lego sets, and musical instruments. For teens: gift cards, books, portable CD players, movies, sleeping bags, makeup, jewelry, wallets, watches, etc.

Also, many of our readers last year were kind enough to donate stockings filled with small items like books, inexpensive toys and toiletries along with their gifts. We know the children who received these were excited to have that extra little surprise from their special "Santas." We appreciated the generosity and would love to see more stockings provided this year.

From the campaign's get-go last year, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our readers, leading us to add new children to our tree almost every week.

The deadline to make your donation is Monday, Dec. 5. Please bring all donations to our office at 710 S. Kenosha, in downtown Tulsa between 7th and 8th Streets. For information or inquiries, call 592-5550 and ask for Daniel or Nancy; or e-mail urbantulsa@urbantulsa.com, with "Christmas for Kids" as the subject.

In addition to, but separate from, the "Christmas for Kids" campaign, UTW will spend the month promoting adoption awareness for children in permanent foster care, with at least two or three children available for adoption showcased each week. The children who will be in the photos are separate from those featured on the Christmas tree. We hope these photos and biographies will inspire some of our readers to consider adoption as a way to complete their families. For more inspiration stories of adoption, see "All the More to Love" and "The Waiting Game" online at urbantulsa.com.

If you are interested in finding out more about adoption or adopting one of the children seen in Urban Tulsa Weekly, contact Jane Eneff at DHS, 581-2552.

And, if as you're reading you have questions about adoption you think UTW should address during National Adoption Awareness Month, please e-mail Managing Editor Katie Sullivan at ksullivan@urbantulsa.com. As we continue to cover adoption and foster care issues, we will attempt to provide as much content and information as possible.