POLAND — St. Nick may be in the habit of making an appearance only at certain times of the year, but for Kristin Kinsman, her role as the beloved bearded figure isn’t confined to the holidays.

“I get to be Santa Claus every month,” Kinsman, a foster care specialist with the Bair Foundation Child and Family Ministries organization, said, referring to her job of giving donated gifts to young people in the foster care system.

The Christian-based foundation, with regional offices in Kent and New Wilmington, Pa., was among the agencies at a Share the Love event Saturday at New Life Church, 2250 E. Western Reserve Road.

Hosting the three-hour fundraiser was an organization called Comfort and Hope, which reaches out to children, teens and young adults in the foster care system, as well as caseworkers.

Comfort and Hope has a partnership with several Mahoning Valley agencies that includes the Bair Foundation, Mahoning County Children Services Board, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services and Project MKC (Making Kids Count).

All year long, Comfort and Hope’s estimated 25 volunteers assemble birthday bags with essential, age-appropriate items for those 1 to 22, along with separate bags for agency caseworkers. In addition, the organization works with Project MKC to create comfort kits for babies to those through age 18, Wanda Marland, who runs Comfort and Hope, noted.

The organization is seeking baby shampoo, baby wash, lotion and diaper cream to fill the kits, Marland said at Saturday’s event.

Also, churches, individuals and others make blankets and other items that are donated to the partner agencies — such as the Bair Foundation — then distributed to those in foster care, she explained.

Comfort and Hope makes more than 600 birthday bags annually, with 57 assembled for those whose birthdays are in December, Marland continued. Bags contain health and hygiene products, duffel bags, books and other gifts for teens, along with “fun” items such as superhero figures, trading cards and comic books.

The Bair Foundation has between 60 and 63 clients up to age 21 in the system. Comfort and Hope ascertains what those under the foundation’s purview need, then Kinsman goes to recipients’ homes to give the gifts to them, she explained.

Jennifer Ayers, the Bair Foundation’s intake coordinator, said she conducts interviews with those interested in being foster parents before they can be certified for the role.

During Saturday’s gathering, several people made donations, including Fran Teutschbein of Boardman, who volunteers for the Pregnancy Help Center in Youngstown.

“My heart goes out to these kids (in foster care),” said Teutschbein, who brought 11 brightly-colored crocheted comfort blankets.

The blankets were a surplus from the center, so she decided to give them to Comfort and Hope to be distributed to certain babies and teens, she explained.

Also in a charitable mood was Mariellen Rich of Boardman, who recently published a children’s book titled “My Sunshine Space.” She brought 20 paperback copies and donated them to the Bair Foundation.

The book, which is her fourth to be published, tells the story of a young girl who experiences a difficult day, but learns that “a day full of clouds can turn into sunshine,” she said. Rich added that $1 of each book sold goes to the Southington-based nonprofit Camelot Center for Equine Therapy organization.

Simultaneously helping to raise money for Saturday’s fundraiser and displaying her talent with colorful pony beads was Mikayla Jayde Powell, 16, of Industry, Pa., who also is Marland’s granddaughter.

Mikayla, who attends an art school and has worked with such beads for about three years, was selling a variety of keychains and bracelets, along with flower- and snake-shaped pieces.

“I’m just glad to help out,” she said.

Also at Saturday’s Share the Love were Northeast Ohio Adoption Services and Mahoning County Children Services Board, which provided pamphlets on parenting tips, the importance of reporting child abuse and neglect, and safe sleep for babies.

In addition, the event featured a basket raffle and a crafts table for children.

To make a material or monetary donation to Comfort and Hope, go to venmo@comfortandhope, email Marland at birthdaybags@icloud.com or visit the organization’s Facebook page.