A Barrie charity that focuses on children who may otherwise fall through the cracks is ramping up its efforts for the holiday season, with a goal of providing complete Christmas experiences to 200 local children this year.
Gift a Family, now in its fourth year, connects sponsors with families facing difficult circumstances, providing everything from Christmas trees and gifts to holiday meals and seasonal activities.
Founder, Amanda Patrick, says the organization was created to help children who are not already connected to other charitable programs.
"Gift of Family serves a specific need in the community, which is that we find kids that are not already connected to local charitable initiatives," she said. "They're sort of forgotten about, and we come in and act as a bridge for their parents who are maybe going through a hard time."
Listen below to our interview with Gift a Family founder, Amanda Patrick
Rather than focusing on a single gift, the organization aims to recreate the full Christmas experience.
"We really want to give that feeling of Christmas so that when they go back to school, they feel just as important as every other kid there."
Since launching, Gift a Family has provided Christmas experiences to about 500 children and facilitated roughly $300,000 in community contributions.
Families can be nominated through the organization's website by teachers, coaches, neighbours, family friends, or others who know a child in need. Families can also nominate themselves. Each nomination is followed by a personal conversation with organizers before families are accepted into the program.
Patrick said speaking directly with families helps reveal challenges that may not be obvious on paper.
Among the families helped in previous years was a single mother whose four-year-old son had recently witnessed the murder of his father. The child had never experienced Christmas before. Through the program, the family received a Christmas tree, gifts, dinner and other holiday traditions, while a sponsor also arranged for the boy to attend a Toronto Raptors game.
Another family was coping with an infant's upcoming brain surgery while also trying to provide Christmas for other children in the household.
"You really never know what people are going through," Patrick said.
This year, organizers say they have already secured sponsorships for about 100 children, putting them halfway to their goal. They are looking for additional sponsors and donors to help reach the remaining families before the holidays.
Sponsors are matched directly with families and receive customized wish lists so they know exactly how their contributions are being used. Patrick estimates it costs about $500 to sponsor a child through the program.
Those interested in sponsoring a family or making a donation can learn more through Gift a Family's website or social media channels such as Instagram. Organizers hope to have families matched with sponsors by Nov. 30 to allow enough time for holiday preparations
