Join Us in Spreading Christmas Joy to Ohio's Foster Teens
Since Christmas 2019, One Church has been on a mission to make the holiday season brighter for Ohio's foster teens. Through the unwavering support of churches and businesses across the state, we have provided more than $1.1 Million in gift cards to foster teens across Ohio. Teens in foster care are in circumstances outside of their control, but these gift cards offer them a sense of freedom and choice.
THIS YEAR, WE’RE EXPANDING THE IMPACT!
In addition to providing $25 gift cards for Christmas, this year we will host the inaugural Foster Hope Holiday Fest. This event will provide a transformative Christmas experience for foster teenagers across Ohio, combining celebration with exposure to STEM careers, mental wellness resources, and essential life skills to support their transition into adulthood.
We can’t do it alone.
Our Christmas outreach is only made possible through the generosity and partnership of our incredible community. And this year, we are aiming even higher, with a vision that is audacious and inspiring. We want to provide more resources, donate more gift cards, and make an even bigger impact in the lives of foster youth across Ohio.
frequently asked questions
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In 2019, we set out to collect a $25 gift card for each of the 775 foster teens in Franklin County. Our community rallied behind this effort and we were able to collect more than $50,000 worth of gift cards for teens within our county.
Since then, we have provided more than $1.1 million in gift cards to foster teens across Ohio. This year, with your support, the Foster Hope Holiday Fest will provide additional resources to support youth in foster care as they transition into adulthood.
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During the course of our partnership with Franklin County Children’s Services, we learned that Christmas tends to be a difficult time for foster teens. Typically, many donors want to purchase gifts and toys for little children - teens, who have outgrown dolls and toy cars, are usually forgotten. We set out to change this.
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The outreach will begin on Sunday, November 24th and run through Sunday, December 8th
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We want the entire community to get onboard! Regardless of religion, background, or any affiliation. This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and we are excited to collaborate with local businesses, organizations, and individuals to collectively further the impact of this outreach.
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We are collecting $25 gift cards to restaurants and retail stores. The retail stores must have an online presence.
Many teens are located in rural areas, so we want to be inclusive with the gift cards we provide. Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Subway are preferred restaurants, since they are typically located in most counties. Stores that have an online presence allow teens to order online if they do not have a physical location nearby. Examples of appropriate retail stores include Target, H&M, Zara.
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Yes, any financial donations we receive will be used to purchase gift cards. You can follow these 3 easy steps:
1. Visit one.church/give
2. Select “Foster Teen Christmas Outreach” from the drop down tab
3. Input your donation and click give
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Email dionna.a.carter@gmail.com