First of all, thank you and anyone who has contributed gifts or money to HHH. The amount of gifts purchased by donors each year is of a staggering and humbling amount of generosity. Iβve been on both sides of it. Before my kids cleared all of the legal hurdles to become adopted, they were still foster children through HHH and had made wish lists before I took them in. When our case manager came for our December visit that year, she asked me to come out to her van after the kids went to bed. We brought in at least five 96 gallon bags full of wrapped gifts from their small wish list and so much more. It was overwhelming. I had never been on the receiving end of charity to that degree. I still get choked up recalling the emotion of that moment. I didnβt want to create an expectation of such a shamefully excessive bounty of gifts and ruin the beauty of the spirit of giving, so me and my now ex-wife made the decision to keep only a fraction of those gifts and donated the rest to other charities that hadnβt fared as well as HHH with donations.
Since adopting them, Iβve been on the donating and volunteering side. Helping organize and deliver the gifts and spending time with the kids is one of the best things we do every year. I also talk to families going through foster training and with those considering adoption. My kids, now high school aged, like to come with me and also share their stories on the ways that adoption and having a forever family changed their lives. Itβs awesome that so many people give money and gifts, but what they need most are people. If you know anyone in Central Texas interested in fostering or foster to adopt, please consider Helping Hand Home. Thanks again to anyone who has supported HHH and other organizations to help children in need of safe homes and loving care.