Renee Milam s four children each have their own personalities and list of favorite things.
For Christmas, 10-year-old Kaidon, like many boys his age, was hoping for a Nintendo Switch video game system, but he knows that s a big ask. Anything Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Legos would be amazing for him.
His brother Emory, 4, who has autism, loves cars, water toys for the bathtub, sea creatures and PJ Masks. His big ask is for a Hot Wheels Colossal Crash Track.
A Zion, 2, has Down syndrome and loves shiny, light-up toys like the Infantano Music & Lights 3-in-1 Discovery Seat.
Twin sister A Zaria wants a baby doll and a stroller or princess toys.
Academy gives $2,000 shopping sprees to 4 Season for Caring families
Families chose shoes, clothing and socks with a few fun things thrown in
Kirstan Kemkaran had her whole weekend planned.
The Georgetown 8-year-old was going to practice hitting the ball with her new mermaid-colored softball bat and catching with her new pink glove. She was then going to go fishing in San Gabriel Park and shoot cans in her backyard using her pink Red Ryder BB gun. At some point, she probably was also going to put on her roller skates.
Kirstan s new gear was purchased during a shopping spree she and her family went on at Academy Sports and Outdoors. On Friday, the sporting goods store gave four Statesman Season for Caring families $2,000 each in gift cards to buy whatever they wanted.
LaChantia Anderson doesn t even remember the last time she went to the dentist. When she did, it was because the pain was so bad. All she could afford to have the dentist do was to pull that tooth.
And then this past year, another tooth started hurting, she said, but she couldn t afford to get it pulled.
On Friday, Anderson and her daughters Azyria and Aishiah were able to get help from dentist Dr. Kavin Kelp through Capital Area Dental Foundation and Season for Caring.
This is the 10th year that Capital Area Dental Foundation has provided care for the families featured in the Statesman s Season for Caring program. Anderson and her daughters were nominated to Season for Caring by the Salvation Army Austin after years of struggling with homelessness.