One Church sparks joy for foster teens in Ohio

On Nov 20, 2022

GAHANNA, Ohio — Tis’ the season of giving, but some children get overlooked during this time of year: foster teens.

What You Need To Know

One Church in Gahanna has been collecting $25 gift cards for foster teens since 2019

The outreach is for every foster teen in the state, but the need has grown from years past

Outreach director Dionna Carter says 6,400 teens are currently in foster care in the state — an increase from last year

One Church is collecting gift cards through Dec. 4

That’s why One Church in Gahanna is helping with a Foster Teen Christmas Outreach.

“Every year, I consider this a miracle,” said outreach director Dionna Carter.

Carter helps make this “miracle” happen by collecting $25 gift cards for the program.

In 2019, it started off serving foster teens in Franklin County only, but it’s since expanded. The outreach now includes every county throughout the state at a time when the need is greater than ever.

“This year is even bigger,” said Carter. “Last year, they had about 4,300 foster teens in the state of Ohio. This year, there’s a little more than 6,400.”

That’s why people like Carter want to help.

Though Carter doesn’t know the foster care children, not even by name, case worker Kaitlin Kennison does.

Kennison is just one of the people delivering the gift cards personally.

“A lot of times they’re in a really hard season in their life. So, it’s nice to be there in the fun times too,” said Kennison.

Kennison is a small part of the outreach, delivering only to the teens in Franklin County. She said their excitement is everything to her.

“When I get to deliver those gift cards, they’re so joyful,” Kennison said. “They’re so happy. It’s a privilege to see joy!”

Carter hopes their work cheers up many more foster teens throughout the state.

“I think it’s amazing,” Carter said. “We all want to come together and do this. We all want to let them feel that they’re loved and seen and not forgotten, and this is a simple way of doing this.”

To donate, you can give online at One.Church/foster.