A new project is underway to provide a birthday gift to each of the more than 75 children that are in foster care through Chilton County Department of Human Resources (DHR).

Ada Ruth Huntley, a junior at Chilton County High School, started the project titled, “Operation Birthday Present” through her school club FOCUS.

Huntley was inspired by her mother Elizabeth Huntley’s story to start the program.

“Being the daughter of a mom who was a foster kid at times during her childhood, this issue resonates with me on a personal level. As a result, Operation Birthday Present was created to make sure that no foster child in Chilton County goes without a birthday present,” Huntley said.

To get the gifts, Huntley and the members of FOCUS recruit families to sponsor a child on his or her birthday.

Once assigned a child, the family or individual will get basic information on the child including gender, age, race, and what the child wants for his or her birthday.

Information in hand, the family/individual will go out and buy the child his or her present(s).

They get a two-week notice before the presents are to be turned in.

Once all the gifts are turned in, the FOCUS members will pick a day to stay after school and wrap the gifts and deliver them to DHR.

The presents are then given to the social workers who get the presents to the kids.

Huntley has gone to churches and local organizations to promote the project and solicit volunteers to provide presents.

Huntley spoke to the Kiwanis Club in August and this week to the Chilton County Children’s Policy Council.

“I am excited about the response of the Chilton County community to our requests for the gift,” Huntley said. “I am glad to see people so willing to give.”

For those interested in providing a birthday present to a foster child through Operation Birthday Present, email Huntley at adaruthhuntleycchs@gmail.com or call CCHS at 280-2710 and leave your name and contact number.