Avamere at Sandy, an assisted living and memory care community in Sandy, Oregon, invites their local community to participate in their fifth annual Adopt a Foster Child for Christmas program.
The team is partnering with the Clackamas County Department of Human Services to collect Christmas presents for these very deserving children.
How it all started
It all began from one employee with a desire to serve. Susan Leininger, Director of Community Relations for Avamere at Sandy, volunteered with Embrace Oregon before her career with Avamere. Embrace Oregon partners with DHS offices across the state, bringing together local communities, groups, and churches to support children and foster care and their families.
Her heart stayed with those children when she took her position with Avamere, and the idea for the tree was born.
The giving Christmas season
The Avamere at Sandy team surprised over 120 kids with Christmas gifts in 2018. In fact, they refilled the tree with tags three times!
“The generosity of our Avamere family is inspiring and increases each year,” Susan said.
Susan is excited to continue this tradition with her team, residents, and local community for the fifth year.
“It started with a passion to show these children and families there are good people in this world who love and care about them,” Susan said. “We have been able to do that but also give people of all ages an opportunity to join together and feel the joy of giving and helping others. It truly feeds my soul.”
Give a Christmas gift
You can help make a child’s Christmas!
Visit Avamere at Sandy and take a tag from their Christmas tree. Each tag is personalized with a child’s name, age, clothing and shoe size, favorite color, and what he or she hopes to get for Christmas.
Drop off your wrapped gift at Avamere at Sandy by Wednesday, December 11. The children’s case workers will then distribute the gifts, giving each child a special memory on Christmas Day.
Contact Susan with any questions about the Adopt a Foster Child for Christmas program, and help us make Christmas a very special day for our children in foster care!