Foster teen outreach breaks record of 12,000 gift cards

GAHANNA, Ohio — More foster teens than ever are experiencing a little extra holiday joy this Christmas. 

What You Need To Know

• One Church in Gahanna runs a Foster Teen Christmas Outreach program
• The outreach collects $25 gift cards for foster teens every year, hitting a record of 12,000 gift cards this season
• The goal is to make foster teens feel included over the holidays

One Church in Gahanna was collecting $25 gift cards for its Foster Teen Christmas Outreach program and the final numbers are in. This season, they collected 12,000 gift cards. That’s more than they have collected in past years and comes at a time when the need is great. 

Outreach Director Dionna Carter said 6,400 teens are currently in foster care in Ohio, 2,200 more than last year. 

The outreach began in 2019. It was only for foster teens in Franklin County at first, but now includes every county throughout the state. 

Carter said she hopes this helps foster teens feel included over the holidays and not overlooked. 

One central Ohio foster parent said her foster teen is excited about receiving the gift cards. 

“We have two foster kids right now,” said Rene Smith. “This is our first Christmas of having a teenager. Last year, he was like ‘Will I get one?’ and I was like ‘Well you’re not a teenager yet.’ He’s excited.”