FARMINGTON – Come Monday afternoon, district court rooms in Farmington will be transformed into a celebration for foster children and their foster families. Court employees have already done the shopping and wrapped the gifts and invited Santa to the holiday party.
Sixty-three children from 19 families plan to attend, Farmington court Clerk Vicki Hardy said Friday.
They’ve invited all the local foster families and the foster children that court officials have placed along with their foster families.
It’s a way for children to see the court in a different light, rather than just the people that make decisions on their care and where they’ll be placed, Hardy said.
“We wanted them to know that we as a court are friendly,” she said.
It also gives foster families another opportunity to meet and socialize with each other, she added.
The celebration has grown since its inception seven years ago, and more and more community members are helping out.
“We buy children individual presents, and we also put a family pack together,” Hardy said , including movie tickets, restaurant coupons and other coupons for entertainment for a family.
Members of the Farmington Fire Rescue Department have been a big boost for the event, she said.
“They’ve really supported us from the very first year,” Hardy said.
A big, red fire truck will be parked in the yard of the courthouse between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12.
The court service window will remain open for regular business until 4 p.m., with the food and the entertainment for the party in the large and small courtrooms.
People in the community donate food and money to help with expenses, and businesses also donate to help the effort, she said.
MBNA donates coats for some of the children, while volunteers knit hats, scarves and mittens for the children.
Court Assistant Clerk Christine Longley is the lead shopper and takes a couple of employees with her when they go out to buy the gifts.
“Christine is just perfect at this,” Hardy said. “She is a great shopper.”
Longley has children and lots of nieces and nephews, and knows what children like, Hardy said.
University of Maine at Farmington students will put on puppet show, employees of the Franklin Savings Bank plan to help out and Longley’s sister will portray a clown and have a karaoke machine there.
There will be games, crafts and, of course, pictures with Santa.
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