Local child welfare leaders recently hosted a special brunch to honor grandparent and relative caregivers.

Guests of Embrace Families and Children’s Home Network were treated to brunch by Bless My Soul Catering & More before receiving nutrition and exercise tips from HIIT Fit Group’s Master Trainer, Coach Curtis Huggins.

Neika Berry, Children’s Home Network Director, and MaryEtta Clarkson, Embrace Families’ Kinship Program Director, thanked caregivers for all they do. This message of gratitude was echoed by a former youth in care, who reminded the grandparents and other relatives of how important they are in the lives of their kids.

The honored guests were gifted with a goodie bag containing coffee mugs and permanent markers, along with instructions on how to have their grandchildren decorate the mug. They were also able to bring home hygiene and other household products, clothes and toys for the kids.

As the lead nonprofit agency overseeing child welfare in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, Embrace Families thanks the community for all its support that made this event possible.