CINCINNATI — Bikes, scooters and other ways to get around are at the top of the list this year for young adults who have phased out of the foster care system.
The Where2Next foundation, founded by professional basketball player Amber Gray, typically hosts an annual holiday party for young people transitioning out of foster care.
Since the pandemic canceled this year’s party, Gray and her team will go door-to-door to deliver gifts.
The gifts will be geared toward teenagers and young adults in Independent Living, a program which helps transition young people from foster care into adulthood.
Gray said the young adults look forward to receiving special gifts like TVs, clothes and gift cards, but they also enjoy getting things they need – toiletries, school supplies, home goods and kitchenware.
The Where2Next team will dress up like Santa to deliver gifts to about 50 young adults. Gray said it’s more important this year than ever to spread holiday cheer. She said the pandemic has caused some of the people she works with to experience depression and thoughts of suicide.
“If we can help one kid, change one kid’s mind from, ‘No one loves me, no one cares about me, I’m in this house by myself, I don’t have the things that I need, how am I going to do this?’ to, ‘I can do this,’ then we feel we have fulfilled our purpose,” Gray said.
Click herefor more information about the event and how to donate. The deadline to donate is Dec. 20.
