The upcoming holidays are a time to reflect on being thankful for what you have and thinking about how we can help those less fortunate in our community. A great way to help is by participating in the Fourth Annual “12 Days of Giving” holiday matching funds campaign. This event is a unique way to connect our community to six basic-needs organizations for their holiday giving, providing donors with an opportunity to maximize their donation and contribute funds to more than one charity.
The participating organizations are CASA of San Benito County,Chamberlain’s Children Center, Community Food Bank, Emmaus House, Homeless Coalition and Salvation Army.
Celebrating 40 years in Hollister, Chamberlain’s Children Center provides a home-like environment for at-risk foster youth who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. Chamberlain’s provides a safe housing, nutritious food, wellness activities and therapy along with teaching life skills to the community’s most needy children. Many of the children in our care have never experienced a traditional holiday season like the ones you, I and our children have.
During the holidays, we’ve taken them to see “The Nutcracker,” the holiday lights and parades and on Christmas morning, the children wake up with gifts under the tree, decorations and a traditional Christmas dinner. You should see their faces bright and happy!
In addition, we take our teens on a shopping spree, because like all teenagers, they are a little more challenging to shop for. 12 Days of Giving provides us the funds to do this special trip.
Last December, a young girl arrived on our doorstep with only a quarter-filled garbage bag. In that bag were her possessions, including all the clothes she owned. Luckily, due to 12 Days of Giving donations and a grant from the Intero Foundation, we were able to take the children, including that little girl, shopping to buy new items like jeans, shirts, sweaters, socks and shoes.
This girl needed everything so the volunteer helping her was instructed to fill her cart with whatever it took to fill her dresser. At the end of the trip, the little girl who came to us with very little was so happy to have new clothes she lit up like a Christmas tree.
Due to the store’s generous offer of 30 percent discount, we were able to stay on budget. We hope to provide another wonderful holiday season to these special children. Please consider donating to Chamberlain’s.
Now through Saturday, Nov. 28 at the downtown Hollister’s Lights On Celebration and Parade, all six agencies will be collecting donations. Donations will be matched during this period. This year’s sponsors are Community Foundation for San Benito County, United Way of San Benito County, Tiffany Ford Motor Company, Earthbound Farm, Teknova, True Leaf, Hollister Rotary, Recology, KMG Electronic Chemicals, Waste Management and Greenwood Chevrolet all of which are matching fund sponsors.
Please remember to put “12 Days” in the memo line.
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