Safe Children Coalition program provides holiday gifts for 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, there are some foster children who may never have experienced a real holiday celebration. And for foster parents and other vulnerable families, the holidays can be a stressful time – especially now, with recent hurricanes having impacted thousands of households in the region.

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 caring members of the community. The program matches sponsors – compassionate, caring members of the community – to children's gift wish lists. This year, SCC will provide nearly 700 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.

Bradenton-based construction company Woodruff & Sons, family owned and operated since 1946, has participated in the SCC Angels program for many years. At first, they donated a variety of items, including bikes. Then requests started coming in for bicycles of various sizes and the effort grew to a large truck full of bikes each year. The company purchases the bicycles – typically around 55 each year – and then employees assemble them during work hours, while on the clock, in the spirit of community service.

“Family is very important to us – we wish that every child could grow up in a stable, safe and loving home,” said Linda Wakeman, the secretary/treasurer for Woodruff & Sons. “We feel Christmas is a time of blessings and – being thankful for our families and our good fortune – we want every child to feel that they are important, that they matter, and that they are a blessing.”

"The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity for caring members of our community to give back to the most vulnerable members of our community," added 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."

In fiscal year 2024, Safe Children Coalition served over 9,300 children in foster care and adoptions, and prevention and diversion programs. More than 1,500 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.