Nine years ago, Greenwood resident Jim Westhoff and his wife Cindy welcomed a son into their family.

Robbie was 9 years old, and after spending most of his childhood in Delaware's foster care system, he finally had a family to call his own.

Last year, Robbie shared stories with his father about how difficult the holidays can be for children in the foster care system. Even when they're placed with a family, holiday advertisements can make them feel left out, he said. Robbie told Jim about one Christmas spent sitting under a family Christmas tree, watching his foster parents' biological children open their gifts. But there were none for Robbie.

“There were never really any sentimental gifts or anything I asked for,” he said.

Robbie and Jim Westhoff put their heads and hearts together and decided to do something for Delaware's foster children. They started Presents from Robbie last year and delivered gifts to 50 Delaware foster kids.

“The big thing is, I just want them to have what I never had,” Robbie said.

The Westhoff family works with Delaware's Division of Family Services to identify children in need of presents during the holidays. They first had to get wish lists from the kids, then they had to find volunteer secret Santas to help purchase the gifts, wrap them and deliver the gifts during holiday parties for the kids.

Jim Westhoff said the wish lists are heart-wrenching because children ask for items like scarves, hats and warm jackets – gifts that many families would take for granted.

He said last year, a 16-year-old girl was moved to tears by her present. She received a pair of socks, but it wasn't the content of the gift that brought her to tears, but the idea that those socks were bought specifically for her.

“It's truly about the gesture and not the present,” Jim Westhoff said.

This year's Presents from Robbie program will focus on foster teens because the Toys for Tots program helps foster children up to age 13, Jim said. They gathered wish lists for 130 teens, and with an outpouring of support from the community, they now have enough volunteers for each child to have two secret Santas.

“I keep thinking of all these kids,” Jim said. “It's the highlight of the holiday season for me and Robbie. Everything we're doing is all on a volunteer basis, and everyone is stepping up. It's just one neighbor helping another.”

Joseph Smack, executive assistant in the Division of Family Services, has worked with the Westhoff family's secret Santa program since its 2013 start. He said this year's efforts for teens helps fill a gap for an age group of foster kids who are often overlooked.

“It's nice that children in care are recognized. Some haven't had a proper holiday in a long time, if at all, so these kinds of gestures are very nice at this time of year,” he said.

In two years, the Westhoff family has nearly doubled their contributions, and if the program continues, they may be able to provide presents for most, if not all, Delaware foster teens. Smack said there are currently 651 children in Delaware's foster care system, including 240 teens.

“The state cannot do everything for these children that we would like to do to provide them with the holidays that they deserve, so it's really satisfying to see social groups filling that void,” he said. “It does show that a small grassroots movement, coupled with social media tools, can really make a big difference throughout the state.”

Most of the volunteers have been found through social media, mainly through Reddit, Jim said, and while they've gathered enough secret Santas and presents for this year, they're still in need of wrapping paper, tape and locations for wrapping parties.

Drop-off locations in each county will accept presents, which Robbie will then take to holiday parties or case workers for delivery to the teenagers.

“It's just something that I never got as a kid, and I feel all kids … deserve the gifts and just knowing that they have someone who cares,” Robbie said. “It's like being a family to them.”

For more information or to participate in Presents from Robbie, email PresentsFromRobbie@gmail.com or go to www.facebook.com/PresentsFromRobbie.