The Peru Gazette

Kirsten O’Jida Blair (L) with her wife Crystal, and their children Liah, 10; Jazlynn, 6; and Olivia, 4.

Peru – Thanks to a letter to Santa from 10-year-old Liah O’Jida Blair, her mom’s reaction, and many peoples’ generosity, hundreds of local children will enjoy a more joyful Christmas. The young Peru girl wrote to Santa asking him to bring presents to kids whose families can’t get them gifts. Leah’s mom Kirsten Ojida-Blair couldn’t help but try to fulfill her child’s wish, so she decided to ‘fill the truck’ with gifts for local foster children. O’Jida Blair is familiar with the situations many foster children face. Before adopting them, she and her wife Crystal fostered two of their daughters Jazlynn, 6. and Olivia, 4, through the Clinton County Department of Social Services (DDS).  

When word of Kirsten’s goal got out through friends and social media, her co-workers, friends, family, and the community responded in a big way. Yesterday, several DDS staff members gasped when Kirsten opened the doors of a U-Haul trailer, revealing hundreds of gifts. It took several volunteers almost 30 minutes to bring them all inside. Over the next few days, DDS staff members will sort the gifts and deliver them to the children they serve throughout the county.