The Holiday Giving Program Lightens the Load for Mother in Need

Each year, the Sacramento Children’s Home hosts our annual Holiday Giving Program, which provides gifts to children and families in need, bringing joy to the season. Donors can choose to Adopt a Family, select a Wish Star, or sponsor an event organized by one of our programs. We are continually inspired by the incredible community that comes together to support families.

The children and families we serve experience a variety of hardships, from loss of employment to lack of child-care assistance to foster care issues. As organizers of the Holiday Giving Program, we’re not always able to receive feedback from the families we helped. That’s why it’s especially rewarding when we hear from a family impacted by the Holiday Giving Program. Thuyen, Team Leader at the Valley Hi Family Resource Center, recently shared a story about one mother’s experience.

Last year, we had a family enrolled in the Village Home visitation program— a single mother of three, all under three years old. The youngest was a newborn, born prematurely, and spending her first holiday season in the NICU. On top of in-home parenting classes, our Family Resource Center staff helped her with transportation to and from the hospital daily to see her baby. She was stressed and overwhelmed, unable to make the holidays feel special for her family.

This family was part of our Holiday Giving Program, and a generous donor from the community shopped for them and wrapped their presents. The mom was speechless when our staff delivered the gifts to this family. Through tears, she told us she didn’t realize how much she needed this. She repeatedly thanked the staff, to which we told her, “It’s all thanks to the donor.”

The impact this had on our staff was profound. Moments like this help remind us why we do the work we do every day.

This mother is just one of many we were able to help this holiday season. With the help of our community, our recent Holiday Giving Program fulfilled the wishes of 238 families and 1,007 individuals through Adopt a Family. Additionally, we granted the wishes of over 1,000 children through Wish Stars. We recognize that this could not be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors and volunteers, whose unwavering support makes our mission possible year after year. It is truly heartwarming to see individuals set aside their own challenges to help others. Thank you for helping bring smiles to families who sometimes need a little extra help.

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