Drop off donations at justice center through Dec. 13
There are more than 100 kids from Monongalia County in the state’s custody and a local law clerk has organized a toy drive to help make sure they have a special holiday.
Law clerk Esha Sharma partnered with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to make sure the toys collected will go to Mon County kids in the state’s care.
“It’s really sad,” Sharma said. “I mean we get calls all the time from DHHR and we get all the petitions and they never have enough toys. It usually falls on the DHHR employees to go out and get toys and they’re spending their money and there’s only so much they can do.”
Children in foster care can be overlooked by traditional programs because foster parents have to be careful about releasing the children’s information, said DeAndra Burton, an attorney who frequently handles abuse and neglect cases.
“I think it’s a very good idea, Burton said of the toy drive. “Due to the opioid epidemic that we have in the state and especially this county the number of children going into state’s custody has quadrupled in the last five years.”
Both women said the number of abuse and neglect cases and number of kids removed from their homes and taken into custody by DHHR increase during the holidays.
The DHHR takes children identified as being unsafe — either because of a failed safety plan or emergency situation — and places them in temporary custody until the safety deficiency is addressed, director of communications Allison Adler said.
Collection boxes for the toy drive are located on the first floor of the Monongalia County Justice Center and donations will be collected from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays until Dec. 13. Toys for all ages are accepted, but must be new.
Child Protective Service workers regularly visit children in DHHR custody and will distribute the toys during those regular visits, Adler said.
Cathy Golleher, deputy circuit clerk, said she donated various sports equipment, books and stocking stuffers, such as Hot Wheels vehicles.
“I believe in stockings,” she said. “Every kid should have Christmas presents.”
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