The Utah Foster Care Foundation Giving Tree Program has extended their deadline until Dec. 16. The UFCF is asking groups and residents to help brighten the holidays for children in foster care who live in Uintah and Duchesne Counties. The foundation is partnering with Wal-Mart to sponsor a Giving Tree. Shoppers can purchase items for boys and girls listed on the Giving Tree tags or donate Wal-Mart gift cards to be used by local children living in foster families.

The tree – located in the Vernal Wal-Mart by Subway – is loaded with Giving Tree tags that will accommodate approximately 65 children this holiday season. UFCF Retention Services Specialist Faith Spencer decided to extend the deadline to help fill every tag on the tree and will be picking up the donated items on the morning of Dec. 17.

“There are still several children with tags on the tree and only a few days to go,” Spencer said. “I don't know if people just aren't quite in the swing of things yet or really the Basin is hurting and this is a reflection of that.”

Spencer did say that the foundation has received a grant from KSL “Quarters for Christmas” that has helped purchase shoes, boots and needed clothing for area children.

“When kids first come into foster care there's a stipend given to them to purchase any needed items, but if they go home and come back into foster care again that money is no longer available,” Spencer said. “So sometimes kids in care are really in need and they grow out of things really quickly. It's a tough economic time and families are hurting so this Quarters for Christmas grant has been a real blessing.”

Purchasing items listed on the Giving Tree is easy. Just pull a tag from the tree, shop for the listed item, pay for it, then take it and the tag to the service counter and they'll do the rest.

“I have foster parents make a list of needed items,” Spencer said. “They give me the size and color preferences if that's applicable. That's really important because everyone who takes a tag off of that tree is shopping for a very specific child. It's not just going to a store room where people come and pick things. They're shopping for a very real child. The tag also gives information if you're shopping for a male or female and the child's age.

“Sometimes we have cash donations or gift cards that have been donated and so if say that one child only got one thing on their list, then I'll supplement that with a gift card,” Spencer continued. “That way the resource parent or foster parent can go and purchase other things the child might want or need for Christmas so everyone will have something to open on Christmas morning that's meaningful to them and needed.”

Uintah High School has also done a “Wishing Well” fundraiser in an effort to support helping children in foster care to be able to purchase a yearbook, take dance lessons, participate in sports, etc. because typically there is no funding for extra-curricular items such as those.

If you're interested in learning more about the Giving Tree program or making a cash donation, go to www.utahfostercare.org or contact faith.spencer@utahfostercare.org or (435) 724-0959.

The Utah Foster Care Foundation serves Utah's children by finding, educating and nurturing families to meet the needs of children in foster care.