The Making Christmas Memories Program
With the help of many The Fresh Start Project brought Christmas to 11 families this year! Families who would have experienced much greater stress and huge financial burdens without our support this month.
Back in September we contacted each of the clients we supported this year and asked if they wanted to be a part of our Making Christmas Memories Program. Over the next couple months we spoke with them off and on, getting updates on what warm clothing they needed and what might be on their Christmas wish lists.
Our Christmas Program involved two deliveries to our families. The first drop off included homemade baked goods, Advent calendars, winter clothing, a huge box of household necessities and Christmas decor (ornaments, a tree, wreaths, etc) to help make their homes holiday festive and their pantries stocked for the weeks to come. We would like to thank Canada Cartage for their donation of household items for our families, including paper towel, toilet paper, cleaning products and more! Ital Pasta provided us with a generous portion of pasta, olive oil, bread crumbs, canned tomatoes and risotto for each family! Each Momma Bear was also offered wine supplied by Madelaine Klanac through Mark Anthony and by Julia Munro through Brown Forman.
Our second delivery happened on December 23 and included beautifully wrapped gifts (personally curated for each family member by our amazing volunteer Cheryl Low) and stockings (thank you Yasmin!), Christmas breakfast (organized by Katharine Borczak and her team of elves at UPS) and dinner meals, lovely gift baskets (thanks to Deb Jackson and her team), a beautiful painting for each Momma Bear (thank you Maureen McNeil) and a grocery gift card (thank you Ricky and Rimmy). ADAPT Home Health Care contributed to the Christmas dinner and we'd like to acknowledge their generosity. Each dinner box included a roast, pierogies and carrots (generously provided by World Meats), potatoes, corn, stuffing, gravy, buns and more, as well as pies (provided by Le Delice Pastry Shop) and some cookies (thank you Patricia Kelso). Watan Kabob donated a halal meal for one family.
Our families have been wrapped in love by all these gifts and they are most grateful. Your donations, along with the support of our sponsors, has made a difference for these families. We received messages from many of them, thanking us for our support this year.
"My family really appreciates the gifts and all the help we have received from you guys. It means a lot to us. Once again thanks for everything. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and receive the best. God bless you. Stay safe!" R.
"I want to say a very big thank youto The Fresh Start and all your donors. Please express our appreciation on your page. From L and the boys. God bless you all. Happy Holidays."
"You will never truly understand the magnitude of what you have done in our lives." "We are safe, warm, happy and content this Christmas." "I cannot thank The Fresh Start Project and all of the contributors enough." V.
These families have lived through some terrible life experiences.
We were connected to them through their “turning things around” period.
And we arrived at their front door, reminding them that:
They are cared about.
They are remembered.
They are part of the community.
They are being cheered on.
With love and gratitude,
Sue & Nance