Thanksgiving....a time to reflect and be grateful. Let's take a moment. Let's take a breath. The holiday season is rapidly advancing toward us. Our calendars and cupboards are filling up. But today, let us just stop for a moment and be grateful. For our families, our communities, and the opportunities we have to connect with each other. The Baby Fold is so grateful that we do our work with families in great communities who are so supportive. The Festival of Trees was another grand success, and this means that The Baby Fold can provide hope and healing to the families who need it so much. Together, every day we watch families grow, and witness each child and parent moving toward his or her best self. And dear friends, know that The Baby Fold is thankful for YOU. Without our partnership, we could not transform lives. So, we are grateful for you and hope that you will have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Christmas is a time of sharing, and The Baby Fold invites you to give to a child in a very special way. Here's what you can do for a Baby Fold family. We have nearly 600 wish lists for the children in our residential and community based programs. We want to make sure that every child has a Merry Christmas.  If you want to receive a wish list for a child, email Kate Kirby at kkirby@thebabyfold.org and she will give you a child's wish list and directions on where and when to deliver the gifts. (If you're not sure you want to do this, please read the story that follows.)

Also, in recent years, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been followed by a national day of philanthropy called Giving Tuesday. In fact, Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and community collaboration. This Tuesday, November 29, we will ask our community to help us fill ALL of our children’s Christmas Wish Lists. Please watch for details by email, Facebook, and Twitter ...and help us spread the word! 

A sweet friend of The Baby Fold recently told us why she loves to fill wish lists for our children and families. We'll call her "Sandy." She herself was a foster child. She recalls the Christmas eve when she and her brothers were "dumped" at a DCFS office. At the tender age of three, she remembers sitting in a big chair, feet swinging back and forth, fearing that she would be separated from her siblings. A woman came into the office and saw the children sitting quietly huddled together, Christmas music playing on a radio nearby. That woman, then a stranger, took the children shopping for Christmas presents. And then, a dream come true, she took them to her home. She became their foster mom and then, adoptive mom. That Christmas, long ago, was filled with sadness, but it was the beginning of a new life for Sandy and her brothers. Now Sandy cheerfully buys Christmas gifts for many of our kids who are waiting for their dreams to come true.

The Gramm family shared their adoption journey at the Adoption Celebration at The Baby Fold's Festival of Trees. Mrs. Gramm described the process as "crazy, messy......and it all started with a YES!" Arianne talked about how her heart broke for the birth mother of their precious boy named Hugh. When she and her husband met this sweet little baby, he was swaddled tight and laying on his side. "I couldn't get over how beautiful he was" she sighed. They took Hugh home, joyful, but holding their breath. They fell in love with Hugh, but there would be a court process before they could know that he was theirs forever. When that day came, Arianne said that as Hugh's birth mom surrendered her rights, she knew that she loved her son. That birth mother gave the greatest gift to her son, the Gramm family. Please click here to read the full amazing story written in Mrs. Gramm's own words.

The Baby Fold provides excellence in our services to our communities because donors partner with us in our mission. Click here to make your year- end gift. If you would like to meet with Aimee Beam, our Vice President of Development and Public Relations, you may contact her at abeam@thebabyfold.org or (309) 451-7203. She will be happy to talk with you about your financial plan for The Baby Fold.