Holiday Helping 2018
Donation protected
As so many of you know, we do a lot throughout the year for our neighbors in need. We help with car and home repairs, medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, child and elder care, transportation, pet care, job leads, rent and utility assistance, locating affordable housing, and groceries - especially things that can’t be purchased with SNAP benefits (food stamps).
At holiday time, we make a special effort to help families who would otherwise slip through the cracks, and seniors who might be forgotten or unnoticed. We make sure each child gets a nice selection of new and gently used clothing, books, and toys, including something special from their wish list. We provide clothing for the adults in the family if needed, and we help catch them up on any bills they may be behind on. We also take care of any home or car maintenance or repairs that need to be done. This is a special blessing for these families. It gives them a much happier holiday than they were expecting, and puts them on more secure footing for the new year.
These families are truly the working poor - they make just enough to keep them from qualifying for any assistance, yet not enough to handle any extra expenses. All it takes is one crisis - an unexpected car repair, a leaking pipe, an illness - to overwhelm them and put them on a downward spiral that could easily lead to homelessness. What we are able to do for them truly makes a difference.
We already have eight families and four seniors on our list for this year, and there will likely be more! We need boys and girls clothing in all sizes, and books, toys and games for all ages, especially toddler and elementary age. Please don't donate clothing that is faded, stained or torn, toys that are in poor condition or no longer work, or games and puzzles with missing pieces.
Gift cards for the parents, so they can do some of their own shopping, would also be helpful - so would gift cards for Kroger or Food City, for groceries and gas. If you would like to help but don't have time to shop, donations of gift cards or cash are easy and allow us to pick up whatever is still needed - or it can be put towards a bill, repair, or other urgent necessity.
Each year we do this, it makes our community stronger and pulls us closer together. Thank you for helping to give these families a Happy Holiday and a more secure New Year!
At holiday time, we make a special effort to help families who would otherwise slip through the cracks, and seniors who might be forgotten or unnoticed. We make sure each child gets a nice selection of new and gently used clothing, books, and toys, including something special from their wish list. We provide clothing for the adults in the family if needed, and we help catch them up on any bills they may be behind on. We also take care of any home or car maintenance or repairs that need to be done. This is a special blessing for these families. It gives them a much happier holiday than they were expecting, and puts them on more secure footing for the new year.
These families are truly the working poor - they make just enough to keep them from qualifying for any assistance, yet not enough to handle any extra expenses. All it takes is one crisis - an unexpected car repair, a leaking pipe, an illness - to overwhelm them and put them on a downward spiral that could easily lead to homelessness. What we are able to do for them truly makes a difference.
We already have eight families and four seniors on our list for this year, and there will likely be more! We need boys and girls clothing in all sizes, and books, toys and games for all ages, especially toddler and elementary age. Please don't donate clothing that is faded, stained or torn, toys that are in poor condition or no longer work, or games and puzzles with missing pieces.
Gift cards for the parents, so they can do some of their own shopping, would also be helpful - so would gift cards for Kroger or Food City, for groceries and gas. If you would like to help but don't have time to shop, donations of gift cards or cash are easy and allow us to pick up whatever is still needed - or it can be put towards a bill, repair, or other urgent necessity.
Each year we do this, it makes our community stronger and pulls us closer together. Thank you for helping to give these families a Happy Holiday and a more secure New Year!
Organizer
Amy Broyles
Organizer
Knoxville, TN
