CindyLou Romberg and her husband keep a stash of extra Christmas gifts in a closet of their Port Angeles house.
The presents — toys, books and dolls — are not for a late-night visit from Santa, but for foster children who may arrive at the Rombergs’ home Monday.
“We’ve had kids come in on Christmas Eve before,” Romberg said. “Every year we learn that you have to be prepared.”
Thanks to help from a gift-giving program through the state Department of Social and Health Services, the Rombergs and other foster parents can be sure their foster children will feel loved during Christmas.
Romberg and her husband, Glenn, are two of nearly 6,000 licensed foster parents in Washington.
They have parented 442 foster children of all ages in the last 10 years, in addition to their two biological children.
The rest of this Sunday Showcase feature appears in today’s Peninsula Daily News. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.