Many Christmas wishes came true this week for several local youth living in foster care.
The fourth annual Christmas Party for Annis’ Children, a ministry of St. James Episcopal Church, was held Wednesday evening in the church’s parish hall.
The Annis’ Children ministry focuses on serving all members of the foster community in Washington County and were among those invited to share in the Christmas party festivities.
Those members include foster parents, foster children, social workers, lawyers, the youth court judge and any other person affiliated with foster care in this county, along with Child Protective Services (CPS).
Annis is the first name of a long time parishioner of St. James — Annis Walcott, who left an endowment fund with the church when she died.
Emily Pieralisi, chairwoman of Annis’ Children, said some of the money used for the work of Annis’ Children ministry comes from the Walcott fund, hence the name, Annis’ Children.
“Our ministry began with this Christmas Party, and then once the Christmas party became a huge success, we decided we were gonna figure out other ways we could help through the year,” Pieralisi said.
Today, Annis’ Children has blossomed into a multi-faceted community partner, as there are different parts of the ministry collectively focused on improving the lives of foster children and keeping families together.
Aside from hosting the annual Christmas party every year, Annis’ Children volunteers devote their efforts to lifting up and supporting all stakeholders in the foster community.
Once a month, Annis’ Children volunteers have a social worker appreciation program where they go to the CPS office and take treats and other items just to express their appreciation.
Pieralisi shared the ministry has a “care closet” at the church, which is equipped with essential items foster youth may need.
“The care closet has personal hygiene items, comfort items, books and journals,” she said. “The care closet also covers prevention cases,” cases in which the ministry tries to keep children with their families and from coming into foster care.
With those efforts, Annis’ Children has an emergency request form social workers can fill out for certain things those children and families may need.
“In the past, we’ve given away a refrigerator, repaired a washer and dryer, given a stove, car seats, clothing and even food vouchers,” Pieralisi said.
Social workers can also request any needed items from the ministry, which Pieralisi said they always try to make happen; if they can’t, they reach out to community members who are along side them to make it happen.
Annis’ Children also has a school uniform program in which they provide school uniforms to any youth, foster or prevention cases that need it.
Last year, the ministry provided uniforms for over 98 children in which 100% of those children were prevention cases — children who needed help with being kept out of care.
The ministry is working especially hard to get in with their aging out youth and teenagers and one way they are doing so is through their varied support of a boys home in Washington County.
This year, Annis’ Children acquired scholarships at the YMCA for the boys so they can use the facilities there when they’d like to.
Pieralisi said their partnership with the YMCA is just one example of the many partnerships Annis’ Children has in the community and how it helps them serve the members in their community.
Other members Annis’ Children has partnered with include the Junior Auxiliary of Greenville and the Italian Club Ladies Auxiliary.
“The Italian Club Ladies Auxiliary provide the meal for our Christmas party, which is homemade spaghetti and meatballs, green beans and salad,” Pieralisi said. “It is the second year they’ve done this, as well as provide a filled stocking with all kinds of treat for every child in care.”
A support group who meets at the church once a month, every third Saturday, is yet another way the ministry supports the foster community.
“It’s a place where our foster parents can come and they can receive support and be among like-minded individuals,” Pieralisi shared.
At the meeting, those individuals can also work towards their certification hours and Annis’ Children provides that portion of education for them along with volunteer staff who look after the children for the duration of the meeting.
Pieralisi said the kids get an opportunity to craft, sing, dance and play while the parents take advantage of the resources the meetings provide.
“The thing I’m most proud of is what happens on the night of the Christmas Party,” she said.
Pieralisi highlighted it’s not just the parishioners of St. James who are involved with the Christmas parties, but the community supporting the children and the families.
“That’s the part I’m most proud of, just how much it has grown into a community effort,” she cheerfully said.
Even firefighters from the Greenville Fire Department have attended the Annis’ Children Christmas party the past three years, bringing a fire truck, assisting Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus distribute gifts to the children and helping to clean up afterward.
“One year, Santa even left on the fire truck, it was the cutest thing,” Pieralisi reflected. “Our Greenville firemen are very active in this ministry.”
Every child, whether they were able to attend or not, received a gift. Those gifts were provided through fundraisers to help raise awareness and help the ministry to advocate for the Washington County foster community.
Pieralisi said because supporting foster care is a community-wide effort, by reaching out into the community and asking for funds to help the ministry provide presents for the kids, they found it’s a great way to educate the community about the needs here in Washington County for its foster community.
The Annis’ Children ministry receives wish lists from the children given to them by the social workers and the volunteers then do all of the shopping, wrapping and organizing.
With about 300 gifts, according to Pieralisi, it was beautiful to see the children be able to sit with Santa and receive their gifts.
“I would definitely like to thank every single person that donated to our fundraiser for these gifts. Without them, we couldn’t do all that we’ve been able to do,” Pieralisi said. “It was truly a magical night.”
