Groups Reach Out To Area Foster Kids

By Steve Rensberry, Editor

The Gateway Chapter of the Iron Motorcycle Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Belleville  stepped up to the plate again this year to help foster kids have a great Christmas.

The club and Big Bother Big Sisters have collaborated over the past several years, organizers, said, to help local families in need with essential holiday items.

The effort includes a yearly Christmas part where each of the kids has a chance to open several gifts, as well as visit with Santa.

The chapter recently expressed its thanks for all the help and support from local corporate donors.

“Donors included Troy VFW Post 976, who donated their party room and soda/water for the families, Alfonzo’s Pizzeria who for the 4th straight year provided an awesome pizza lunch, Dunkin Donuts who provided gift baskets for the parents and City Scoops who provided several gallons of their awesome ice cream for the kids (small and big) to enjoy before wrapping up the festivities for the day as well as Integrity Spine and Joint Center and countless other business partners in and around the community who graciously donated to help with the purchase of all the gifts,” a club representative said.

Each child receives three gifts each and if possible a fun-filled stocking.

The group also likes to see foster parents receive a little something for themselves to help them enjoy the holiday season.

“These families do amazing things for these children and the Gateway Chapter wants to make certain that they have an amazing Christmas filled with the things that every child dreams of,” the representative said.