Woman, 80, turns to Christmas Bureau for her foster children

Mary Robins is an energetic, petite woman with a huge heart.

The 80-year-old widow has dedicated much of her life to caring for others, and hopes to become an adoptive mother soon.

She’s currently a foster parent to two girls, ages 7 and 9. Robins recently picked out presents for the girls at the Christmas Bureau, an annual event that provides grocery vouchers, toys, books and more to thousands of people who could use a little help during the holidays.

The girls came under her care after the state called Robins, who has fostered in the past, and said the girls desperately needed somewhere to go.

“I said, ‘I’m not really taking any more kids,’ and he said, ‘But they really need you. These are really neat little girls. You’ll really enjoy them.’ ”

He was right. Now, Robins is fighting to adopt them.

According to Robins, the girls told her, “ ‘God sent us here and we are happy here, and we want to stay.’ ”

When they first arrived at her house, the 7-year-old said, “Do you know Jesus?”

“I said, ‘Well, do you know Jesus? She said, ‘No, we’ve been praying all the way here you’d know Jesus.’ I said, ‘Well, come on in.’ ”

Now, they’re working their way through the Bible together. Robins said she doesn’t force them; the girls just took an interest in it.

She said she planned on spending her golden years traveling and doing mission work, but “God had a different plan for us.”

Robins also raised two biological children and three stepchildren, and she was a surrogate mother, of sorts, to their friends, too.

“We always had kids in the home,” she said.

She got her start as a foster parent when she was working with the Department of Child and Family Services and saw the need in the community for foster care. She also currently lives with and cares for a 52-year-old woman with Down syndrome, whom she took in just after her husband died.

“It’s been an interesting mix in my house,” she said.

Robins said the girls’ biological mother is trying to regain parental rights in court.

Robins said the girls are very bright and have grown leaps and bounds developmentally since they’ve been with her. They love school and they love to sing, she said.

“It’s just absolutely incredible,” she said.

And when it comes to her age, Robins said, she has no trouble keeping up with the girls and their evolving interests. After all, they’re not the first children Robins has cared for. At the Bureau, she chose a tent and sleeping bag to give them for Christmas.

“It’s fun,” she said. “Every day is a new challenge. Every day is a new adventure.”

When in doubt, Robins and the girls turn to the Bible for answers.

“It’s all there,” she said.

New donations

Tom and Colleen Tracy, of Spokane, gave $500, writing, “Our donation is to help support the community effort to help those in need and to celebrate the success they have had over the years.”

The Davis and Leyde families gave $500, writing “Thank you for putting this program together!”

Janice Darc, of Coeur d’Alene, gave $400.

Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services gave $250, writing, “This is Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of Spokane’s Christmas gift to our Board of Directors. As members of the greater Spokane community, I know that our board will be very pleased of this gift as we support the outstanding work of this fund in supporting many adults and children during the Christmas season.”

Ronald Pasquale, of Spokane Valley, gave $200.

Jeff Ellingson gave $200 via PayPal.

Dick and Mary Schroeder, of Spokane, gave $100. Bob and Sue McVicars, of Spokane, also gave $100.

Virginia Czechowski, of Spokane, gave $100, writing, “In memory of family who have passed away.

An anonymous donor gave $100, writing, “I believe that the Christmas Fund you promote is one of the best things about living in Spokane. We are all encouraged to participate in a community committed to caring for each other.”

Joe Guerrinha, of Spokane Valley, gave $50 in memory of Joaquim and Candida Guerrinha.

Steven Mackenzie, of Spokane Valley, gave $50 in memory of Sandy McAlpine.

Theresa Hansen gave $50 via PayPal.

Judith Schoepflin gave $35 via PayPal.

For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the processing fee.