When 15-year-old Chloe moved to her ninth foster care placement just before the holidays last year, she didn’t expect much. The foster family she was placed with didn’t celebrate holidays, and her November birthday in years prior had quietly passed without acknowledgement. But thanks to Worthdays, a Richmond-based nonprofit, Chloe was celebrated not once, but twice, at a time when she needed it most.
“The only constant in her life those years was being celebrated by Worthdays. No matter what else was changing, she knew someone cared,” Chloe’s caseworker from the Department of Social Services recalled.
A story just like Chloe’s is what inspired Caroline Neal, a former foster care social worker, to found Worthdays in 2015. The organization was built on three core pillars: joy, normalcy, and awareness, with the goals of meeting the needs of older youth in care, supporting the child welfare workforce, and being part of systemic change in our local child welfare system. Nearly 10 years since its founding, the nonprofit continues to celebrate children and youth in Virginia’s child welfare system on important days in their lives, like birthdays, graduations, and milestones. In 2017, Worthdays expanded to also celebrate kids during the holidays to fill the gaps for those who would otherwise go without.
Since then, the organization has ensured upwards of 250 children each holiday season feel the joy of being remembered. What sets Worthdays apart is that every child is celebrated personally. The program goes beyond gift-giving to create moments that help children feel seen and valued for who they are. Sometimes that means providing a young adult with a bike (complete with helmet and lock) so they can reliably get to work, lifting the daily stress of transportation. Other times, it’s a sponsor carefully embroidering a child’s name on a new duffle bag, which simultaneously carries their holiday gifts and replaces the trash bags typically used by youth to move their belongings. And sometimes, it’s a sponsor taking the time to find the exact pair of shoes a child had wished for, transforming what could have been just another present into a powerful reminder: someone listened and cared enough to choose something just for them.
Last year, that message was felt deeply by two teenage girls who were placed with their older sister after years of separation. The oldest sister, aging out of foster care herself and raising her own young daughter, had fought hard to keep the siblings together but had few resources. A social worker who worked tirelessly to support the family said Worthdays not only sponsored the teens but also provided for their sister and niece, allowing them to share their first holiday season reunited together as a family without an added burden. “It was such a great blessing,” the caseworker recalled. “They needed a win, and they definitely got a win last year.”
Today, Worthdays serves children throughout the year across nine local Departments of Social Services. The need remains urgent. Virginia currently has 5,715 children in foster care, including 855 in the Central Virginia region. Each year, about 500 youth age out of care without being reunited with their families, placed with relatives, or adopted. Worthdays also supports children diverted from foster care through kinship care arrangements, where relatives step in with very limited resources. In those cases, Worthdays meets critical needs through their holiday program, providing everything from diapers and beds to clothing and transportation support.
While the child welfare system is often filled with loss, trauma, and separation, research shows that with the right tools and support, children still have the capacity to experience joy, too. Worthdays exists to help ensure that joy is never overlooked, creating moments of normalcy, stability, and celebration for kids who deserve it most.
How You Can Help
This holiday season, Worthdays is seeking sponsors to ensure every child referred to the program experiences the joy of being celebrated. Sponsoring a child or sibling group for the holidays is an opportunity for families, coworkers, or community groups to work together in meaningful ways. You can also participate in The Joyful Battle of Lights this holiday season to raise funds for children and youth in the local foster care community.
The organization is also asking local groups to hold drives for critical needs, including gift cards and duffle bags. Worthdays is always thrilled to welcome new supporters who want to help send the message that every child is worthy of being celebrated and having their needs met.
To learn more, visit worthdays.org or follow them on social media platforms at @worthdays.
