Special Christmas party for foster kids

By: Tammie Fields

Clearwater – Wednesday night was a dream come true for hundreds of local children. They got some one on one time with Santa during the 19^th annual Pinellas County Foster Family Christmas Party held in downtown Clearwater.

The Christmas party is more like a Christmas dream. Everything is donated and it's free for kids of all ages. But this party isn't your typical holiday party. The 350 children attending this party are kids who have been through an awful lot in their young lives.

Lorna Hicks and her husband have 9 children. Two are their biological kids and the others are either foster children or adopted. She says her children were excited about the party all day long. Hicks says the public might be shocked to know some kids have never even heard of Christmas. She shares a story about a four-year-old. "She'd never seen Santa Claus. She'd never had presents and didn't even know what a Christmas tree was."

That's why the Cherish the Children foundation, a non profit organization, has thrown this big bash for the past 19 years.

President, Ben Kugler, says "When you have kids that are taken away from their home if these are multiple siblings they don't always go to the same foster home and this is one of the few places where they actually get to see each other." "It's the faces on these kids. It's having fun. It's having as much to eat of whatever they want and getting four of five gifts."

Organizers say the party is only possible through the hard work of about 75 volunteers. Business owners donate the food and toys.