By By Sharon White/The Meridian Star
Dec. 10, 2000
Of the several hundred foster children who will be in the care of the state Department of Human Services over the holidays, 100 of them will be adopted for Christmas by employees at Riley Hospital.
For the second year in a row, Riley employees are honoring the hospital's physicians by adopting foster children in lieu of purchasing gifts for the doctors.
Foster children are those children who are placed in the care of the state after authorities take them from their homes because of alleged neglect or abuse. Wesley House Community Center helps thousands of children with Christmas gifts each year, with several hundred of them being foster children.
Grissom said, however, hundreds of area children whose loving families cannot afford to purchase Christmas gifts are still depending on Wesley's support if Christmas is truly going to be a happy event.
Although Riley employees may add more money if they wish, gifts for these children will be purchased with vouchers provided by Riley.
Vouchers are based on ages, with $50 for children 5 years old and younger; $60 for children ages 6 to 10; and $70 for children between the ages of 11 and 17.
To help Wesley provide Christmas for the less fortunate of this community, or to assist with other foster children, contact Grissom at 485-4736.
Sharon White is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at swhite@themeridianstar.com.