12-06-2004, 12:04 PM
http://www.boston .com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/12/06/so_no_child_is_forgotten/
So no child is forgotten
By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist | December 6, 2004
Cassandra Watson is now a 22-year-old mother. But one of the most important moments of her life occurred seven years ago, living in a residential group home for the mentally challenged.
It was there that she became aware that some of the kids she lived with didn't have much of a Christmas. Some living under the auspices of the Department of Social Services have families in a position to care for them, and some don't. One roommate in particular was left behind on the holidays.
''I still tear up thinking about her being alone on Christmas Day," Watson said recently. ''I don't know what it's like not to have someone watching out for me, who thinks of me in the good and bad times of my life." The Children's Holiday Gift Fund was born out of that moment of sadness. The program raises money to buy age-appropriate presents for children in DSS care.
The program, of course, does what many worthy programs (including Globe Santa) also do, creating a holiday season for those who might otherwise not have one. But it is targeted at a particularly vulnerable and, at times, invisible population, made up largely of foster children and special-needs families in DSS care.
That population includes 8,000 children in foster care; 2,500 in residential or group homes; and 600 disabled children and adolescents in hospitals.
Andrea Watson, Cassandra's mother, was the person responsible for turning her daughter's desire to help her friends into a functioning charity. For Watson, an endlessly energetic advocate for special-needs families, this was just the kind of challenge she lives for. The gift fund was first operated by the advocacy group Parents for Residential Reform, and now operates under the auspices of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
''Our typical child has mental health issues or is on the autism spectrum, or has possibly been abused," Watson said. ''Usually they're in a residential school or in a hospital setting."
In its seventh year, the program hands out presents to anywhere from 200 to 500 youths each holiday season. For younger children, a doll might be the present; teenagers are often given gift certificates, so they can go buy something they want -- CDs, or cosmetics, or the latest hot basketball shoe. That was one of Cassandra's ideas.
While a host of local celebrities have been recruited to donate time or money to the project, it can never raise enough to cover its ever-growing target demographic. ''Although the donations will indeed make a difference in so many of these vulnerable young people's lives, the need is much greater than what we have historically been able to cover," Andrea Watson said.
Actor Bobby Wahlberg has been a strong supporter of the program. ''It just goes above and beyond," he said. ''Andrea's such a passionate person about helping kids in need from her own experiences. There are a lot of great people involved with it."
In a statement, DSS Commissioner Harry Spence recently paid tribute to the value of the gift fund.
''The gifts they open bring smiles to their faces, joy to their hearts, and, more importantly, build their confidence and feelings of self-worth," Spence said.
The holiday season can be a mixed blessing. It is a chance to remember people in need. It is also a time to wonder why so many of us only think about them at moments like this. Perhaps opportunities to help are simply more readily available.
''What they need are homes and families," Watson said. ''That would be the ultimate gift. But until we can find that, we want to make the holidays more joyful."
Donations can be made to the Children's Holiday Gift Fund, and sent to the Federation for Children with Special Needs, 135 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02120.
Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at walker@globe.com.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
So no child is forgotten
By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist | December 6, 2004
Cassandra Watson is now a 22-year-old mother. But one of the most important moments of her life occurred seven years ago, living in a residential group home for the mentally challenged.
It was there that she became aware that some of the kids she lived with didn't have much of a Christmas. Some living under the auspices of the Department of Social Services have families in a position to care for them, and some don't. One roommate in particular was left behind on the holidays.
''I still tear up thinking about her being alone on Christmas Day," Watson said recently. ''I don't know what it's like not to have someone watching out for me, who thinks of me in the good and bad times of my life." The Children's Holiday Gift Fund was born out of that moment of sadness. The program raises money to buy age-appropriate presents for children in DSS care.
The program, of course, does what many worthy programs (including Globe Santa) also do, creating a holiday season for those who might otherwise not have one. But it is targeted at a particularly vulnerable and, at times, invisible population, made up largely of foster children and special-needs families in DSS care.
That population includes 8,000 children in foster care; 2,500 in residential or group homes; and 600 disabled children and adolescents in hospitals.
Andrea Watson, Cassandra's mother, was the person responsible for turning her daughter's desire to help her friends into a functioning charity. For Watson, an endlessly energetic advocate for special-needs families, this was just the kind of challenge she lives for. The gift fund was first operated by the advocacy group Parents for Residential Reform, and now operates under the auspices of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
''Our typical child has mental health issues or is on the autism spectrum, or has possibly been abused," Watson said. ''Usually they're in a residential school or in a hospital setting."
In its seventh year, the program hands out presents to anywhere from 200 to 500 youths each holiday season. For younger children, a doll might be the present; teenagers are often given gift certificates, so they can go buy something they want -- CDs, or cosmetics, or the latest hot basketball shoe. That was one of Cassandra's ideas.
While a host of local celebrities have been recruited to donate time or money to the project, it can never raise enough to cover its ever-growing target demographic. ''Although the donations will indeed make a difference in so many of these vulnerable young people's lives, the need is much greater than what we have historically been able to cover," Andrea Watson said.
Actor Bobby Wahlberg has been a strong supporter of the program. ''It just goes above and beyond," he said. ''Andrea's such a passionate person about helping kids in need from her own experiences. There are a lot of great people involved with it."
In a statement, DSS Commissioner Harry Spence recently paid tribute to the value of the gift fund.
''The gifts they open bring smiles to their faces, joy to their hearts, and, more importantly, build their confidence and feelings of self-worth," Spence said.
The holiday season can be a mixed blessing. It is a chance to remember people in need. It is also a time to wonder why so many of us only think about them at moments like this. Perhaps opportunities to help are simply more readily available.
''What they need are homes and families," Watson said. ''That would be the ultimate gift. But until we can find that, we want to make the holidays more joyful."
Donations can be made to the Children's Holiday Gift Fund, and sent to the Federation for Children with Special Needs, 135 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02120.
Adrian Walker is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at walker@globe.com.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.