Kern's Annual Holiday Cottage taking place virtually this year

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — "The holiday cottage is a program that the Department of Human Services started 33 years ago to make sure children in foster care receive a Christmas wish during the holiday," said Jana Slagle with the Kern County Human Services Department.

It's a holiday tradition in Kern County heading to the holiday cottage to pick out and fulfill a Christmas wish list for a foster child in our community.

"For the last 32 years we had a storefront so last year we were in Rosedale and each year e have a different location depending on what's open."

This year, the storefront known for its holiday cheer won't be happening. But there is still a way to participate.

"This year for COVID we are doing it virtually, we still have the wishes but we are only asking for donations and we will purchase the gift and make sure it gets to the child."

Each year, the foster children fill out a wishlist with three items under a $50 price.

"We write to them, send them a letter asking what they want for Christmas and they send it back to us with what they want for Christmas. We do everything we can to make sure that wish is filled."

The deadline to donate is November 20., but the sooner someone can donate, the better.

"You can donate now we are up and running, the website is kernpartnership.com. So if they go to that website the first page has a holiday cottage button, also our website kcdhs.org, and our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube."