Don't forget foster kids during holidays

Children and teens in foster care are a marginalized group, often not included in holiday festivities. For these kids, the holiday season can mean hurtful memories, a sense of hopelessness and heartache.

As a board member of Today's Youth Matter, I have come to understand the struggles of our community's children who are in foster care.

Since 1991, the nonprofit Today's Youth Matter has served more than 3,500 such foster children throughout the Sacramento region and Bay Area.

There are more than 70,000 children in California's foster care system, and more than 80 percent of them are 15 years old or younger.

Today's Youth Matter has made its mission to provide avenues for these kids to experience unconditional love through warm holiday gatherings that include an annual Christmas party and snow camps.

Last Christmas, I began a holiday tradition when I took four foster children to the Sacramento Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker." My heart warmed as I witnessed the joy these children found seeing the delightful Christmas event for the first time. This year, some of my neighbors will join me in taking 12 foster care kids to experience "The Nutcracker." production.

Christmas is an opportune time to share and care for these children. Other ways to serve include helping to transport kids to and from events, donating a snow sled or sponsoring a child for a Christmas party.

For my two sisters and me, the Christmas season brings back memories of fun and family gatherings filled with treasured holiday traditions. We were blessed to have parents who cared about sharing the joys of this season with their children. Our holidays overflowed with happiness and hope.

For many years, I celebrated the meaning of Christmas by serving as the choreographer of the Crystal Cathedral's seasonal spectacular, "The Glory of Christmas." This unusual production afforded me the privilege of working with countless children. In 2004, I was presented with a new opportunity to serve children in our community through the ministry of Today's Youth Matter.

As we reflect upon the gift given to us through the Holy Child born in Bethlehem, let us not forget children today who have been hurt.

By sharing and caring for these children at Christmas, we will help to transform their holidays, as well as enrich our own.

About the writer:

• Dorie Mattson, a Rocklin resident, is a board member of Today's Youth Matter and an adjunct professor at Biola University, where she has taught Christian theology and dance. Today's Youth Matter provides battered and abused children with positive adult mentoring. For more information, go to www.tymkids.org or contact program director Tucker Farrar at (916) 452-6852.