Fall River foster children program hosts holiday shopping spree

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WJAR) — The shopping list is endless this Christmas season for Children apart of Fall River’s Justice Resource Center’s Foster Children program.

“We think about how we can teach our youngsters how to give back and one of the things we came up with, maybe like 10 years ago, is to be able to “Santa’s Workshop,” says Bob Costa, the Program Director over Foster Kids and Adoption.

The annual Holiday shopping spree takes place Dec. 12 and 13, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., gives over 50 foster children a chance to shop without worrying about money and other stressful factors.

“This gives our children an opportunity to be able to come in and shop for their siblings and family members and do it in a fun way and able to give back to their families on Holiday Christmas Day,” continued Costa.

The children even get a gift of their own. JRI also partners with other organizations to get individual gifts for each foster child right from their own wish list.

The gift will be delivered Christmas Day.

“A lot of the times when children come to us, they haven’t really experienced the holidays the way most of us have experienced and a lot of times, it’s a stressful time for children in foster care,” says Costa.

From newborn to 21 years old, the goal is to make sure every kid apart of the program will have a smile on their face this Christmas season.

“That’s the spirit of the holidays, it’s not only about receiving but giving as well,” said Costa.

Anyone interested in becoming a Foster Friend or even a Foster Parent can go to JRI’s website here.