Gifts abounded at First Presbyterian Church of Washington Friday night: a table of food for all, wrapped presents handed out by Santa, a community coming together for a festive occasion.

But the biggest gift of all was the many words of support and encouragement for 11 teen mothers chosen to be a part of Higher Heights Human Services’ annual Adopt a Teen Christmas program.

For five years, caring people have reached out through the Adopt a Teen program to help young mothers who are struggling with parenting, school and finding the money to allow for both. Each year, “adopters” volunteer to make the girls’ Christmas a little brighter, buying the “adoptees” much needed gifts and supplies from an established list — gifts that double as Christmas cheer.

But the program is not about the gifts, although they are very much needed by these young mothers. It’s about letting young women know that there is a community that supports them in achieving their goals as they cope with the responsibility of parenting at such a young age.

“Our services aren’t limited to Christmas but Christmas is a very special time of the year,” said Higher Heights founder Loretta Ebison.

In 2008, Ebison started the nonprofit geared toward pregnant and mothering teens. As Higher Heights’ director and head of Beaufort County Schools’ Healthy Outcomes program, Ebison has mentored teen mothers, coaching them in school and life, as well as facilitating access to goods and services they would not be able to afford otherwise. She says Higher Heights serves an average of 40 to 50 teen mothers per year.

But it’s Ebison’s own experience that has led to her to her current role: at 15 years old, Ebison became pregnant. She gave birth to her daughter at 16—a daughter who calls Ebison her “superhero.” Through Ebison’s own experience, from welfare and Medicaid to a nursing degree, two masters degrees and her position as advocate for teen mothers, Ebison started the Adopt a Teen program because she’s been there.

“I was ‘adopted’ when I was a teen mom, so I know it feels,” Ebison said. “At Christmas, there’s a higher rate of depression. We don’t want them to be depressed.”

Ebison, and those who work with her, do not want the girls to be depressed because they want them to focus on the path ahead — a path that turns “misery into ministry and trials into triumphs,” according to Higher Heights Board Secretary Jewell Gardner.

“It’s about them going to school, taking responsibility for themselves and not getting pregnant again, going to college. That’s what this program is about,” Ebison said. “As for the (Adopt a Teen) program itself, it shows a sense of community for the girls. It shows we care about them.”

Through Higher Heights, Ebison intends to open a maternity home for pregnant and parenting adolescents. The property, owned by the county, has been obtained. All that’s needed is funding. Finding that funding is a mission for Ebison, as is changing lives for the better — one teen mother at a time.