Adoption teams host National Adoption Day events
Texas adoption team members Jessica Hoskins and Kelsey Neinast appeared on News Channel 10’s “Second Cup” morning show in November to discuss Saint Francis Ministries, adoption, and National Adoption Day. Make sure to check it out because they both knocked it out of the park: https://www.newschannel10.com/video/2024/11/18/2nd-cup-saint-francis-ministries-celebrate-national-adoption-day
Kelsey also appeared in a January segment about adoption on Second Cup. See it here: https://www.newschannel10.com/video/2025/01/22/kelsey-neinast-highlights-upcoming-open-hearts-open-homes-informational-event-2nd-cup/.
Saint Francis Ministries in Texas hosted National Adoption Day events in Amarillo and Lubbock with the theme “Adoption Story: To Infinity and Forever.” Families, friends, and supporters were invited to celebrate the love and joy that adoption brings to families. The celebrations featured activities, games, and opportunities to connect with other community members. Twenty-five children received their forever families on November 21 and 22.
Nebraska
Adoptive children and families celebrated at the Douglas County Justice Center on November 23. The celebration started with a press conference in the first-floor conference room, followed by adoption proceedings in the juvenile courtrooms on the second and third floors.
Judge Candice Novak will host this year’s event, with all juvenile judges participating in adoption hearings. Forty-one children were adopted, and two were placed in guardianship. The event also
featured child-focused entertainment, gift bags for the adopted children, T-shirts, family photos, refreshments, and flowers for parents.
Kansas
Colleagues in Kansas hosted an event called “Journey to Forever” for adoptive kids and families in Hutchinson, Salina, and Junction City at Victorious Life Church in Hutchinson. The November 22 event included family photos, snacks, crafts, and activities for the kids. Thirteen children received their forever families.
Christmas for Kids brings kids and communities together – again
Once again, Saint Francis Ministries’ “Christmas for Kids” campaign delivered smiles and Christmas hope to hundreds of SFM kids in foster care. Thanks to all who worked hard in December and the months leading up to the holidays to ensure the effort’s success.
According to the Foundation, donors in 31 states financially supported “Christmas for Kids” in 2024. Their cash donations allowed programs to buy toys for clients across all states in our footprint. More than 20 businesses also participated in the Foundation’s revamped corporate giving program for CFK.
Hope Tree cards made a resurgence in 2024 with many more businesses, churches, and organizations requesting Hope Trees than in recent years. Their staff, parishioners, and members then purchased wish list items for youth in care.
“Reading the wish list items for children was touching and entertaining,” said Executive Director of Development Ginny Ellis. “Spicy chips seemed to be the most requested item this year. From bikes to tablets to dolls to superhero toys and books, the generosity of donors fulfilling Christmas wishes was on full display.”
Rock Hills Church in Manhattan, Kansas, sponsored one of those Hope Trees. Church volunteers made a short video that they shared with the entire congregation. Check it out here:
“Christmas for Kids” also supports and enhances Saint Francis’ relationships with community partners and “Santa Sponsors” like Key Construction in Wichita.
“We were so grateful to have the opportunity to support such a wonderful team and cause,” said Jerusha Finster, director of business development. “Thank you for letting us experience the real reason for the season.”
Also, the Hope Tree returned to the Saint Francis corporate office this year. Staff filled the wish lists of kids at the Salina-West Residential campus. Senior leaders, the Foundation Team, and Santa assisted in their celebration and Christmas dinner.
“The kids voted on the meal and picked steak and potatoes,” said Ginny. “It was a great choice, and Santa declared it the best Christmas party yet.”
In other states and programs, SFM Nebraska partnered with Toys for Tots, providing toys for more than 200 children.
Staff in the Texas Home Visiting (THV) program in Waco created Family Fun Baskets to give to families served by THV. Independent Living programs in Texas and Kansas celebrated the holiday with gifts and parties. The Lubbock Independent Living program once again met at Atomic Pizza.
Wichita Foster Care Homes and the Foundation partnered with local organization Foster ICT’s “Hope and a Future” event again in December. More than 1,500 children in care and foster families attended an evening celebration that included games, reindeer, food, and giveaways. In addition to toys, the SFM team distributed about 200 new duffle bags and Bibles.
SCHEELS in Wichita sponsored the 2nd annual “Shop with a Cop,” during which 10 kids received a $500 shopping spree. Through SFM’s partnership with the Wichita Police Department, each youth was paired with an officer who joined them for breakfast and shopping.
All Saint Francis programs are welcome and encouraged to support and participate in “Christmas for Kids.” Contact the Foundation for ways to contribute your time and talents.
Son’s memory inspires annual Christmas toy drive
Nearly 80 Kansas children will kick off 2025 with hope and happiness thanks to the hard work and dedication of Carey Jordan, his mother, and their friends and family. The third annual Ellis County Toy Drive gathered Christmas gifts, cash, and gift cards for 55 young people in Big Brothers Big Sisters and 24 youth in foster care with Saint Francis Ministries. Led by Lynette Rumpel, this year’s toy drive enlisted multiple community partners and volunteers to make Christmas extra special for kids in need.
Yet, for Lynette, the success of the drive is bittersweet.
Carey created the annual toy drive in 2022, following his father’s death from natural causes in May. Lynette and Scott Jordan were no longer married at the time, but he had always enjoyed playing Santa Claus for various organizations around Hays. After Scott died, Carey thought a toy drive would be a good way to honor his memory.
“He started the drive in November 2022, which was a bit late,” said Lynette. “So he said, ‘I’m going to start earlier next year.’ And he did. He started the 2023 toy drive in September, but a week later, he took his own life. In Carey’s memory, his friends then took over the drive that year.”
Grieving the loss of her son, Lynette resolved this year to pick up where Carey had left off.
“We discovered that Carey also hoped to help Big Brothers Big Sisters, so we looped them in with Saint Francis because we wanted to serve both organizations. Fortunately, I still have Carey’s friends helping me because we needed all hands on deck this year. There’s no way I could have done it all by myself; it was just too big for me to handle alone.”
One of Carey’s friends, Matt Lyon, actually suggested helping Saint Francis because his wife, Shawna, works for SFM as an Independent Living director. Saint Francis Ministries provides gifts for children in foster care each year through its annual Christmas for Kids campaign. Lynette and Carey’s friends worked with SFM staff in Hays to compile a list of kids in care needing presents at Christmas, then worked with local businesses to create angel trees around town.
Yet, for Lynette, the satisfaction of helping kids at Christmas is tinged with sorrow after losing her own child at just 31 years old. For her, the Ellis County Toy Drive is a labor of love … for several reasons.
“Carey lived life fast, hard, and clean and loved everything outdoors, especially conservation. He loved motorsports, along with hunting and fishing. But he was also very tender-hearted, even when taking the life of an animal. He would give the shirt off his back to someone in need. He loved kiddos and enjoyed teaching them about the marvels of nature, especially his niece, Samantha. Still, sometimes life gets hard. He was too good for this world and needed for a higher purpose. He was an organ donor, and four lives were saved through his death.”
Lynette said she intends to keep up the Ellis County Toy Drive “as long as I can.”
“I wasn’t sure I was ready this year,” she added. “There were moments when I thought, ‘Whoa, what am I doing?’ I’m still trying to settle the estate and stuff like that. But I’m making the best of it I can. I’m not going to step back just because I’m overwhelmed.”
Fortunately, she has help.
“There’s no way I could’ve done this alone. I have to acknowledge all the businesses that had drop boxes and all the gift and monetary donors. My employer, Nex-Tech, allowed us to use office space to sort and store donations, as well as print posters and flyers. Other people helped sort and buy gifts – many special friends, too many to mention.
“If I were to be honest, Carey was a better person than me. He started this, and I wouldn’t have done it if not for me wanting to carry on his legacy. I’m comfortable telling people that he took his own life because we need to talk about it. We need to remove the stigma attached to mental health and seeking help. I also want people to know that something good came out of a very dark thing. Good people also struggle with mental health issues.”
