Part of what makes the Christmas season so special to a lot ofpeople is being able to be together with the family.

For some children, though, it’s not a possibility to be withtheir own family. Therefore, Department of Human Services AreaSocial Work Supervisor Jennifer Hart said DHS is honoring fosterfamilies and students with a party Tuesday at noon at StateBank.

DHS officials have asked for donations of toys and presents forfoster children. And while the community has been very generousdonating presents for the party, Hart said, there could always bemore.

“We’ve asked the community for donations, and they’ve comethrough good,” she said, adding that anyone with questions can callthe DHS office. “Anybody here knows what’s going on, and we willtake all the presents we can get.”

Sometimes Christmas can be a hard time for foster families, asmany families are fostering more than one child inside their home.Hart said there are around 45 foster children from Lincoln County,and currently there are between 15 and 20 foster families.

“Sometimes we place children outside the county, too,” she said.”We do have to put them in a different county sometimes.”

Because of that, Hart said, DHS is also always looking for newfoster homes. She said anyone interested in learning more can callDHS Resource Specialist Shirley Johnson.

There are several steps to becoming a foster family, Hart said,such as passing a background check and taking a class, but that thepayoff is worth it.

“We’re always looking for good foster families,” she said. “Wecan always use more families.”

Anyone with questions or donations for DHS is asked to call theDHS office at 601-835-2838.