However, finding Santa was not so easy this year. The children from foster families faced a series of tasks that tested various skills needed to track down the saint. Along the way, as part of an interactive role-playing game, they met a Mad Scientist, Sherlock Holmes, an Elf, a football coach, Cinderella and police officers. Each character gave them different tasks to complete in order to obtain a piece of the puzzle. The answer to the riddle was the key to Santa… and, of course, to the presents.
This year, the presents were wonderful. Santa’s sack contained toys, books and colourful pens, all thanks to the generosity of Interhurt, Toysland toy shop in Zgorzelec, Znak Publishing Institute in Kraków and Luna24.
Many caring people responded to Santa’s appeal to collect sweets for children from foster families, including firefighters, Border Guard officers, PUP, the Tax Office, the City Office, the Municipal Office, the District Office, the Gasworks, PWIK Nysa, the companies Artex from Jędrzychowice and Społem Powszechna Spółdzielnia Spożywców; administrative employees of the Zgorzelec hospital, Insbud, Eltur Serwis, Epore Żarska Wieś, the District Prosecutor’s Office, PKO BP, PCPR Busko-Zdrój, PZN and UMiG in Pieńsk. The children from foster families were also remembered by pupils from primary schools in Porajów, Łagów and Czerwona Woda, UKS Basket together with their teachers, and many, many others.
Despite the renovation, the employees of the PINK Club made their premises available to PCPR, and the entire staff volunteered their time. A DJ provided great music, while the children also enjoyed themselves at the bowling alley. McDonald’s donated delicious cheeseburgers. Joanna Pawłowicz and Marzanna Michalska led wonderful activities for the youngest children, while volunteers from Secondary School No. 2 in Zgorzelec, together with Ms Bogusia Ziembińska, provided foster families with entertainment by organising excellent family competitions with prizes.
St Nicholas celebrations for foster families are, of course, a great opportunity for fun and for bringing together the foster families of our district. But the District Family Support Centre in Zgorzelec, the event’s organiser, is guided by another very important idea: raising awareness of children’s needs and promoting foster parenting.
Unfortunately, each year the Zgorzelec district sees an increase in the number of children who need foster care because they cannot remain in their own homes. There are currently 200 foster families caring for more than 250 children. As many as 116 children are in children’s homes. This shows how great the need is for people who would like to become foster parents to children who have suffered serious harm. Therefore, PCPR appeals to people who have plenty of love to give and encourages them to become foster parents.
“Call us! Come and see us! We will answer your questions. You are welcome at PCPR, 8 Bohaterów II Armii WP Street in Zgorzelec. Or contact us by phone at 75 77 615 05/75 77 55 587, extension 27,” say the employees of the Zgorzelec District Family Support Centre.
PCPR Zgorzelec/ii