On December 10th, more than 1,500 foster, adoptive, and kinship children poured through the doors of the Sports Forum for this year’s A Hope & a Future Christmas event — a night overflowing with joy, generosity, and the kind of teamwork that makes magic possible. What families saw was a winter wonderland of gifts, activities, and smiling volunteers. But what they didn’t see were the months of planning, thousands of donated items, and the hundreds of hands that worked behind the scenes to make it all come to life.
To capture the heart of the night, we spoke with four EmberHope team members who served in different roles including planning, coordinating, organizing, and working directly with the children and families. Their experiences paint a beautiful picture of what can happen when a community leans in with generosity and love.
Months of Planning and a Community That Showed Up
For Director of Donor Relations Tamber Rouse, planning for this event begins almost as soon as the previous year wraps. “I started meeting with Nate and Tessie at Foster ICT to plan for this year in January, right after the last event,” Rouse said. By June, full planning was underway, and registration opened in August.
Her responsibilities are some of the biggest and most complex: managing registration, tracking angel tree ornaments, coordinating donor questions, overseeing hundreds of gift drop-offs, and creating the entire system that ensures every gift reaches the right child.
Rouse emphasized just how much work happens long before doors open. “This event had so many moving parts and required a lot of detailed logistics planning. We started months in advance with careful planning, gathering resources, and building partnerships.”
This year’s event served 1,576 foster and adoptive kiddos, representing over 3,000 individual registrations, 553 families, and 8 group homes. And behind every number was someone giving of their time, resources, or talents.
“It takes strong community support,” Rouse said. “Churches, businesses, civic groups, and individual donors all stepped up to sponsor youth, host drives, donate space and resources, and contribute financially.”
What stood out most this year was the breadth of generosity and the unity behind it. “The incredible variety of supporters… all came together with the same heart and the same passion to make a difference for our kids,” Rouse shared. “It was the collective impact, the shared purpose, and the genuine compassion from every partner that made this year feel special.”
1,800 Craft Bags… and the Heart Behind Every Single One
One of the most beloved parts of the event was the enormous craft table — stocked with more than 1,800 holiday-themed craft bags prepared by a small but mighty team led by Kristy Gottlob, Executive Assistant to the CEO.
“Our team’s purpose was to give the kids something to do while waiting for the runners to find their gifts in the back,” Gottlob explained. The bags needed to be fun, varied, portable, age-appropriate, and easy for families to carry with them.
It took nearly 2,000 bags assembled in just two and a half days, with support from staff, church volunteers, and community partners. Supplies were sourced, sorted, counted, and stuffed with glue dots, crayons, markers, candy, and even a photo of the finished craft to use an example.
Parents and kids responded with enthusiasm.
“I could tell the parents were grateful that we took the time to create these bags for their kiddos,” Gottlob said. “The kids were excited to pick out the craft that really resonated with them.”
But for Gottlob, the most meaningful moments came when children approached her personally. “For me, it was two different times throughout the evening when a child sought me out to ask for help with their craft. It felt good to be a safe place for them… Those magic moments of engagement made all the work worthwhile.”
And she didn’t miss the deeper significance of the volunteers who helped bring it all together. “These volunteers put their heart and soul into making sure every bag was complete… They did it with a serving heart. I’m so grateful for all of our volunteers who came together to make Christmas special for our foster families.”
A Front-Row Seat to Joy
Across the gym from the craft table, the EmberHope booth was buzzing with activity — toys, candy, stickers, temporary tattoos, and a steady stream of children excited to explore it all. Libby Smith, Foster Care Recruiter, spent most of the night there.
“The children were excited, smiling, and happy to be able to pick out a toy,” Smith said. “Most were very excited for the Christmas Legos or dolls.”
At the tattoo station, she saw kids’ personalities shine. “The children were excited to search through the tattoos on the table and find one they liked and where they wanted it placed,” Smith shared. One interaction still makes her laugh: “One older brother tried to cut in line, and the little brother made it clear he was there first.”
But moments of sweetness stood out, too. One child proudly took photos of his new arm tattoo with an older sibling — and then the family showed Smith their real tattoos honoring a loved one. “It was a nice family interaction,” she said.
Another memorable moment came when she encountered a foster family of six. “They were so polite and mannerly that I gave the foster parent and children a compliment for using their manners,” Smith said.
For her, events like A Hope & a Future deliver a much bigger message. “It inspires them to never give up, a reminds them there is a light that shines through despite sometimes an unclear sight. It’s a reminder to keep on the path of peace, persistence, perseverance, passion, and positivity.”
Watching children and families enjoy everything the team had worked toward filled Smith with pride. “It was an absolute joy to see the faces of the children excited about an event in honor of them… Nothing can compare to all the excitement of that evening.”
A Volunteer’s Perspective: “My Heart Grew Three Sizes”
While some staff oversaw planning or ran activity stations, others jumped in as volunteers to keep everything running smoothly. Nikki Hays, Connections Talent Recruiter, was one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave — unloading trucks, organizing gifts, assisting families, and serving wherever she was needed.
“It was a pleasure and honor to volunteer at the event!” Hays shared. As someone who doesn’t work directly with youth or families, she saw the event as a chance to serve them more personally. “By getting involved and volunteering we can not only communicate about our purpose and values but also demonstrate and show them!”
One moment especially moved her. “The moment that stuck out the most for me was when I had a chance to walk around and truly see how many children, families, and community members were being impacted by the event.”
Seeing the magnitude of donations and the impact on families made an impression. “From a volunteer’s perspective, seeing just how many items and gifts were donated to those in need was astounding and so heartwarming!”
The work wasn’t easy, especially distributing gifts to hundreds of families. But for Hays, the meaning outweighed the challenge. “The high volume of youth and families in need demonstrated the importance of the event. Stepping back and focusing on different ways to best support them is what made it all worth it!”
And the teamwork? “Oh, my goodness it was SO wonderful!” Hays said. “As the Grinch would say… it made my heart grow 3 times its size!”
Her message for anyone considering volunteering in the future is simple: “Please get involved! It is SO worth it to give back and be a part of something bigger than yourself… It is such an amazing way to step out of your normal routine and see the community from a renewed perspective.”
The Heartbeat of the Event: Community, Compassion, and Collective Joy
What ties all these experiences together — the planning, the crafts, the booth interactions, the hours of volunteering — is a shared belief that every child in our community deserves joy, celebration, and a night where they feel seen.
Rouse summed it up beautifully: “Each donation represents someone choosing to care—someone taking the time to say, ‘These children deserve joy. They deserve to be seen and loved.’”
That spirit was palpable in every corner of the Sports Forum. From the crafts clutched in little hands, to families taking photos together, to volunteers racing back and forth with gift bags.
What families experienced in a few hours took months of preparation, thousands of donated gifts, countless volunteers, and a village of staff and partners who refused to let any child go without joy this Christmas season.
To every single person who stepped up to make this Christmas beautiful and memorable for a child in care – thank you, from the bottoms of our hearts. This event wouldn’t have been possible with you, your generosity, your kindness, and your efforts. Also, a special thank you to our event partner, Foster ICT, for allowing us to work together to create such a wonderful night out for Kansas foster families! Your team is truly a blessing.
And that’s what A Hope & a Future is all about: a community coming together to remind our kids that hope is real, love is present, and their future is bright.
Every day, children and families across Kansas need connection, stability, and hope and you can be part of that story. When you volunteer, give, or partner with EmberHope, you’re helping create moments of joy and support that last far beyond a single event. If “A Hope & a Future” inspired you, we invite you to stay involved and walk alongside us all year long. Together, we can change lives one child at a time.
