10-year-old former foster child raises $8,000 to buy Christmas gifts for foster kids
SPRING, TX (FOX 26) - Christmas is getting a lot better for some Houston kids in foster care thanks to an unlikely donor. A 10-year-old girl, who's been where they are, is blessing boys and girls with a Christmas shopping spree. She's just a kid. So how on Earth does Klein ISD Roth Elementary student Kirstyn Jackson have $8,000 to buy Christmas presents for Houston kids in foster care?
”I decided to get people to donate money,” smiles Kirstyn. The fifth grader held the fundraiser because not so long ago she and her siblings were in foster care.
”They were taken from their mother who is my daughter,” explains Velvet Philpot who now has custody of her Grandchildren but while in foster care little Kirstyn was invited on a Christmas shopping spree courtesy Houston Texans Long Snapper Jon Weeks.
”I had $200 and I got to spend it at Target for anything I wanted and he was there with some of his Texans friends,” adds Kirstyn.
“And it was awesome. That night changed her life,” smiles Philpot. This year the 10-year-old was determined to pass on that Christmas cheer.
”Because I like just bringing joy to their heart,” cries Kirstyn as tears stream from the fifth graders face.
“That's a big thing to her to let other people know that there's other people out there who care,” explains Philpot.
“Sometimes they have to go to each foster home without anything to have and stuff to play with or anything and I just want to give them what they want,” adds Kirstyn while wiping away tears.
Kirstyn has already bought gifts for 19 foster children ”It's really sad because they have to carry stuff in trash bags but we bought them suitcases”. She's taking another 20 kids on an amazing shopping spree at Target.
“It's really exciting,” smiles Kirstyn who actually earned, saved and donated the first $300. “She's picked up dog poo. She's cleaned toilets,” her Grandmother smiles.
Now Kirstyn is changing lives, all because NFL player Jon Weeks and his wife Amanda gave her a gift far greater than presents purchased from a store.
”They inspired me to do great things,” smiles Kirstyn.