During the holidays, the Chautauqua County Department of Social Services experienced an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from the Hillcrest Church and Hillcrest Preschool in Jamestown. Donations collected by the congregation and preschool students were specifically aimed at supporting local foster families, bringing joy and comfort to children in care while underscoring the ongoing need for foster homes in the county.
Audra Moeller, Senior Caseworker for the Home Finding Team, shared her gratitude for the community’s kindness, saying, “We received an abundance of donations made by members of the congregation and students of the preschool. The contributions included handmade holiday cards, gift cards, blankets, stuffed animals, hygiene items, books, toys, games, hats, scarves, gloves, Bibles, and gift bags to package the items. These heartfelt donations were collected with our Chautauqua County foster families in mind. It was such a heartwarming outpouring of support for our local foster families, who sacrifice so much on a daily basis for the youth in our county.”
One particularly touching moment was shared by the preschool director, who recounted a story of a young student bringing in a stuffed animal she cherished. Before placing it under the Christmas tree where donations were collected, the child hugged and kissed the toy and said, “I filled him with love; he’s ready to go.”…