A global pandemic couldn’t stop holiday cheer, warmth and kindness as over 215 donors provided gifts and basic needs for 1,279 Family & Children’s Services’ (F&CS) children and families in need through the annual F&CS Holiday Assistance program.
For so many F&CS clients, December is a month filled with difficult decisions. Many low- and no-income families want to give presents to their children and are tempted to skip paying bills in lieu of gifts. The Holiday Assistance program was created to help our neediest families with this type of holiday stress.
Donors had two ways to give: Adopt-a-Family or donate to the F&CS Santa Shop. The way it works is that each F&CS caseworkers and therapists identify clients active in treatment who need holiday assistance. This year, 151 families (672 individuals) were adopted to receive assistance.
Other F&CS families were helped through the F&CS “Santa Shop,” a place where caseworkers can provide help for their clients’ needs. This year, $11,600 was donated and 100% percent of that money was used to purchase items given to overburdened individuals in the form of 970 HUGS (hats, underwear, gloves and socks), 397 books, 323 coats and 2,577 toys, and games.
In addition through K95 radio’s campaign, money was received for 285 bikes. These bikes will go to Hope Centers where F&CS school-based counselors are embedded.
The clients we serve were grateful to all donors who helped make the holidays warmer and brighter. We gratefully pause to give all of our supporters’ thanks.
If you would like to help all year long, please consider making a donation to F&CS.
