Danica McCallum decorates the Christmas tree at her home with her dad./Lindsey Theis
Imagine being a child at Christmas with no tree or toys. For six year old Danica McCallum, at one time, that was reality.
"When she came to us, she had never had a birthday party. She had never had a Christmas tree," her father David recalls.
All Danica had was a bag with a pair of jeans, shorts, a couple of pairs of socks and underwear.
"She had her whole life in a duffle bag. There was just so much stuff that she lacked in life, because of her environment," David said.
Dana McCallum remembers the process, which took more than a year, to get Danica. It was filled with meetings, trainings, interviews, and waiting.
"You check your email, you check your phone, you call your case worker," she said.
When asked what it means to be a mother, she can't help but cry.
"It's wonderful."
There are on average 500 children in Horry, Georgetown, Marion, and Dillon counties in foster care.
This Friday, the McCallums are participating in a Christmas toy run to benefit Fostering Hope, a nonprofit that benefits foster children in the area.
Registration for the run begins at 11. It leaves at 12:30 from the Belk in Conway (off 501 at 16th Ave) and ends at Peanut Warehouse Saturday. All the toys and money donated will go to children in foster care.
Related links:
Salvation Army begins drive to fulfill Christmas wishesLongs family opens their heart and home to orphans
