Blog

Unless you’ve lived it, the challenges of fostering during the holidays can be hard to see. Behind the decorations and celebrations are uncertainties, unknowns, and complex feelings.

“The reality is, we don’t know when the kids will return home to their family,” says foster mom Ashley Ninemire. “My family loves these kids so much and it's always in the back of our minds during the holidays that they might not be here on Christmas.”

"We don’t know when the kids will return home to their family...they might not be here on Christmas."

What is Holiday Beyond the Toys?

At Foster Village Northeast KS, “Holiday Beyond the Toys” means providing real, tangible support for foster, kinship, and adoptive families in the ways they need it most during this complicated season.

For newer foster parents like Abbi Ladd, that support looks like connection and encouragement to enter the holidays with confidence.

“Last year was my very first holiday season as a foster mom, and I had no idea what to expect,” says Abbi. “I didn’t know what our family might look like by Christmas or how to prepare for all the ‘what ifs’ that come with new placements. Foster Village reminded me I wasn’t walking this journey alone.”

For families who have been fostering for a while, like Ashley’s family who’s had seven children placed in their home over four years, support might look more practical.

“The first time we had foster kids for Christmas, we found we needed super practical things, like gift cards for easy meals or a book about naming emotions,” says Ashley.

Support That Goes Deeper

Beyond physical needs, the holidays can stir up big emotions for both children and caregivers.

“The holidays bring up so many emotions because it requires planning ahead,” Ashley explains. “You want to make it magical for the kids, but planning is mixed with sadness and fear of the unknown.” 

“I don’t remember the stuff as much as the support,” says Ashley. “The Moms Support Group is a safe space where I can be with people who know the grief and joy we’re walking through.”

"The Moms Support Group is a safe space where I can be with people who know the grief and joy we’re walking through."

For a child in foster care, the season can be equally complicated.

“We often see really big behaviors on a day like Christmas that’s supposed to be all fun and happy and joyful,” says Ashley. “They might have a strange reaction to presents, thinking, If I’m grateful for this, does that mean I’m happy I’m not with my mom? That’s a hard thing to process.”

“In foster care, even the most joyful things are really mixed with grief,” she adds. “Being with us for Christmas means not being with their biological family.”

"In foster care, even the most joyful things are really mixed with grief."

Building a Safety Net for Families

Through Holiday Beyond the Toys and other year-round programs, Foster Village makes sure families can keep showing up for kids in crisis.

“We know that if we say yes to a foster placement in December, Foster Village will be there to drop off the things we need,” Ashley says. “Having that safety net makes saying yes so much easier.”

What caregiver support from Foster Village looks like:

• Mom Support Groups that offer connection and encouragement
• Welcome Packs filled with essentials for new and last-minute placements
• Caregiver Nights Out that give parents a break and a chance to recharge
• Caregiver Support Consultations with a licensed social worker for guidance through hard transitions
• A Village of Community so caregivers feel less alone and isolated

During the holidays, Foster Village goes a step further to help families connect and bond together.

“Last Christmas, the moms in our support group were able to put together gift baskets filled with items for building family connection,” says Ashley. “Things like meal gift cards, games, books, and a gingerbread house kit. We could use them when it worked best for our family and that flexibility during a chaotic season meant everything.”

This holiday season, give to Foster Village Northeast KS and help local foster families feel supported, connected, and cared for.

For more ways to support foster families during the holidays, explore our 2025 Holiday Giving Guide.