CARTERVILLE, IL -- You can help give Christmas to foster kids in southern Illinois.
This holiday season, Caritas Family Solutions is holding its Secret Santa program. As the second largest provider of foster care services in the state, the nonprofit needs people to donate to make sure all kids using its services can receive a gift.
The program provides year-round support for more than 2,700 foster children in their care.
“It’s unfortunate but not all of our foster children have a traditional Christmas experience,� said Brianna Gilson, Caritas Family Solutions Administrative Manager. “Every child wants to feel that Christmas magic. It may seem like it is little but a gift through this program is something they remember forever. Every child deserves to feel loved and special.�
The nonprofit’s Secret Santa program provides tags for every foster child in their care which includes information about the type of Christmas gift they’d like to receive. Monetary donations received during this time also play a critical role in supporting all of Caritas’s programs and foster children year-round.
“This program genuinely can not be done without our amazing donors,� said Gilson. “It amazes me the amount of kindness that still exists in the world. People are so anxious and eager to help and it’s truly amazing. After our staff drops off the gifts, we hear the stories of the excitement, and these kiddos truly deserve it.�
To become a Secret Santa, go to  or in person to one of the participating locations throughout the Metro East and Southern Illinois and select a Secret Santa tag.Â
People can drop off new, unwrapped gifts to the location listed on the Caritas Family Solutions website or donate by phone, online or by mailing in a check.
All donations will go to support the services provided by Caritas Family Solutions.