(Donations collected by Hillcrest Church and Hillcrest Preschool for Chautauqua County foster families include handmade holiday cards, blankets, toys, and more—bringing joy to over 40 families while highlighting the vital need for foster homes in our community.)
JAMESTOWN, NY – During the holidays, the Chautauqua County’s Department of Social Services experienced an overwhelming outpouring of generosity from the Hillcrest Church and Hillcrest Preschool. Donations collected by the congregation and preschool students were specifically aimed at supporting local foster families, bringing joy and comfort to children in care while underscoring the ongoing need for foster homes in the county.
Audra Moeller, Senior Caseworker for the Home Finding Team, shared her gratitude for the community’s kindness:“We received an abundance of donations made by members of the congregation and students of the preschool. The contributions included handmade holiday cards, gift cards, blankets, stuffed animals, hygiene items, books, toys, games, hats, scarves, gloves, Bibles, and gift bags to package the items. These heartfelt donations were collected with our Chautauqua County foster families in mind. It was such a heartwarming outpouring of support for our local foster families, who sacrifice so much on a daily basis for the youth in our county.”
One particularly touching moment was shared by the preschool director, who recounted a story of a young student bringing in a stuffed animal she cherished. Before placing it under the Christmas tree where donations were collected, the child hugged and kissed the toy and said, “I filled him with love; he’s ready to go.”
Hillcrest Church’s lead pastor expressed the importance of these efforts, stating, “Anything we can do to encourage more support for foster families is a win.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Hillcrest community, Department staff were able to deliver extra holiday joy to over 40 foster families. Chautauqua County currently has 66 certified foster homes, consisting of 45 regular, non-relative homes and 21 kinship homes. Kinship homes are those where the caregivers have a pre-existing relationship with or are relatives of the child in care.
Foster homes provide critical care for children in the custody of the Commissioner of Social Services. Foster care offers temporary, safe, and nurturing environments for children who have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, or other family challenges that endanger their safety. These children range from infancy to 18 years of age and may have special medical, physical, or emotional needs. Sibling groups are often placed together to maintain familial bonds.
Learn How to Become a Foster Parent
If you are a Chautauqua County resident who enjoys working with children and would like to support families in your community through fostering, please join us for our next Foster Parent Orientation. The event will be held on:
Monday, February 3, 2025
Bemus Point Methodist Church
4954 Bemus-Ellery Rd, Bemus Point, NY
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Registration is not required, and attendees may drop in at any time to speak with staff and learn more about fostering. Chautauqua County’s foster care program is all-inclusive, and events are free and open to the public.
If you are unable to attend this event but would like more information about fostering, please contact Audra Moeller by email at moellera@chqgov.com or by phone at 716-661-8212. Additional information is also available on our website: chqgov.com/humansocial-services/foster-home-finding.
Our next series of pre-service foster parent classes is scheduled to begin at the end of February in the Jamestown area.
