IONIA, Mich. — Kim and Andy Glick do not slow down, especially when it comes to helping others.
They have seven of their own children, but wanted to help even more kids. This year, they’re working to help foster parents give children a special Christmas.
Kim and Andy are teaming up with Big Family of Michigan, an organization that helped them with their adopted daughter, who has fetal alcohol syndrome.
This is the second Christmas they are trying to help foster families, especially the foster children. “They leave the only home that they know, and that’s really scary,” said Kim, “going from a home that they know to a family they have never met before. There’s kids that only come with the clothes on their back, and they don’t have anything else.”
Kim and Andy are asking for donations of any new items, from clothes to jewelry, toys to electronics. Donations can be dropped off at the Papa Murphy’s restaurant on 2331 S. State Road in Ionia.
They’re collecting donations until Dec. 4 and hope to make other families’ Christmas celebrations as bright as the lights that shine in their living room.
For every item donated, participants will receive a raffle ticket. The tickets will be entered into a drawing on Dec. 3 for a boy’s or girl’s bike.
Donations will be also be accepted at the Ionia Armory Community Center, 439 W. Main St., on Friday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 to 11 a.m. There will also be a drop-off location at the Mrs. Claus Bazaar, Saturday Dec. 3, from 9 to 4 p.m. at the Ionia Middle School, 428 Union St.
Big Family Michigan will participate in the Electric Parade on Friday, Dec. 2, at 2:30 pm.
Kim and Andy are hoping some businesses will donate movie tickets or food to the foster parents. The parents give an enormous amount of time to care for the kids, and the couple wants to treat them to something special too.
If you are business looking to donate you can e-mail Kim or Andy at Kimglick7@gmail.com or Glicktoyou@hotmail.com.
For more information head to bigfamilyofmichigan.org.