Help Fill Stockings for Sweetser Children

I'm very excited to once again be raising money to fill stockings for children living at Sweetser Residential care units in Mid-Coast Maine in honor of my daughter Julianna. Last year, through donation efforts, we were able to provide stockings for all 21 children and had funds left over to purchase outdoor gear, sleds, toys, and art supplies for the units. This year, we have 20 children to provide stockings for. Please help me spread some Christmas joy to children in need! Read more below about why this project is so close to my heart.

My beautiful daughter Julianna spent two Christmases at a Sweetser Residential Unit in Mid-Coast Maine. These residential care units provide an important service for children and teens in crisis, but as you can imagine, they’re not the most festive or cozy places. Many children in residential care are not able to go home for the holiday. Some children, like Julianna was, are in state custody and don’t have families to visit for the holidays. Currently, there are 24 children who will be at Sweetser residential units in Mid-Coast Maine over Christmas, and our aim is to make their day a little bit brighter. The stocking project’s goal is to give a stocking to each one of those kids, stuffed with candy, toys, and Christmas magic.

We're approaching the fifth holiday season without Jules. When I think back on Christmas and that giant stocking, it makes me so sad to think of it being empty. If you want to help me fill it back up, here’s how you can help: Share this post, shop my crafts, or make a general donation. Each stocking includes the following: coloring book and colored pencils, gloves, socks, stuffed animal, toys, chapstick, slime or silly putty, toothbrush, lotion, and of course, candy!