Christine Busi-DeGiacomo has been visiting Bermuda every year since she was five.

A regular at Rosa’s Cantina, she was somewhat surprised to see a Christmas tree already set up when she stopped in on her most recent visit in November.

But after discovering that it is part of a fundraising drive for the island’s foster children, she decided to help and set up a gofundme account for her friends and family to participate.

“I was so moved by this on my last trip that I felt compelled to share,” said Ms Busi-DeGiacomo, who lives in New Hampshire in the United States.

“No child should wake up Christmas morning without a gift and no child should be forgotten.”

Ms Busi-DeGiacomo and her girlfriends donated to the cause on the spot, but she wanted to do more and decided to set up the online crowdfunding site. So far she has raised $150.

She explained that her parents first brought her to the island when she was five years old and that they would stay at the Fairmont Southampton.

“My parents taught me a love for Bermuda and her people and it’s grown over the years,” the 50-year-old added.

“I come from a very humble background but every year we went to Bermuda and that gift of Bermuda has lasted a lifetime.

“I was so happy that I could do something to help the foster children of Bermuda.”

Ms Busi-DeGiacomo has also encouraged the many friends she has made on the island over the years to participate in the cause.

The drive was started by Rosa’s Cantina and Chopsticks Fusion to assist the Bermuda Foster Parents Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda.

Special Christmas trees decorated with angels representing children in foster care or with BBBS have been set up in both restaurants.

People can purchase gifts for the children or donate money towards gifts, Lindsay Durham, the director of operations and human resources, explained.

Everyone who participates in the drive, which ends on Friday, is entered into a $100 draw, Ms Durham added.

The sister restaurants are also trying to put together hampers for every family and those who cannot afford gifts or monetary donations are welcome to drop off canned and dry goods.