Toys, books and new bikes will be on the wish list of many children this holiday, but for thousands of Rhode Island families, their children’s wishes can only be fulfilled with the generosity of individual and business donors. The 2015 Children’s Friend Annual Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive is now underway to match generous individuals and organizations with families in need throughout the state. Coats, warm clothing, blankets, books, toys, and other donations are being sought to bring the spirit of the season to families who receive services from Children’s Friend throughout the year.

The goal for the 2015 Children’s Friend Annual Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive is to sponsor 1,450 families and 4,500 children during the month of December, a more ambitious target than in 2014. New coats, clothing, toys, books and bikes will be collected at Children’s Friend, 153 Summer Street, in Providence.  

“The excitement and anticipation for the holidays are already here and it’s unavoidable; you can’t walk into a store without seeing decorations and celebratory music already. For parents who have lost a job, are underemployed or just don’t have any extra money left at the end of the month, the holidays can be a time of stress, sadness and frustration when they can’t afford one gift from their children’s wish list,” said President and Chief Executive Officer David Caprio.

According to an economic outlook report released by the New England Economic Partnership last month, Rhode Island’s slow recovery from the Great Recession is forecast to continue over the next three years. The state’s unemployment rate is expected to tick down from 5.6 percent in August to 5.3 percent by 2018, but projected to remain the highest in New England.

Who suffers the most during a recession? With less disposable income among the middle class, those in low-wage service jobs see job cuts or reduction in hours. With cuts in pay and reduced benefits, little (or nothing) is left for extras like a book, a toy or a new bike at the holidays. The Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive provides gifts of clothing and toys to make the winter holidays a special time for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable families. In 2014, nearly 1,400 families received wonderful gifts from supporters. The agency matches sponsors with families who are currently receiving services from Children’s Friend and are in need. 

For those needs that aren’t met through sponsorship, Children’s Friend uses holiday drive grant funds, general gift donations, monetary gifts and gift cards to purchase items from the family’s wish list. Gifts are then delivered with wrapping materials by the family worker to parents, ensuring that they are able to celebrate the holiday season. 

For information on how to sponsor a family, go to spiritofgivingdrive.org or call 276-4346. General donations are being accepted at the Children’s Friend headquarters at 153 Summer Street in Providence, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day through December. Monetary gifts are also welcomed in support of the Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive and can be mailed to Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive, c/o Children’s Friend, 153 Summer Street, Providence, RI, 02903. Children’s Friend is a charitable, 501 (c) 3 organization and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. 

Organizations that have stepped forward to date include Amica, Bank of America, Blum Shapiro, Brown University, Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, Collette Vacations, GTECH, Johnson & Wales, Magna Hospitality, MetLife, Panera Bread, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, Providence College, St. Frances de Sales Church, Stop & Shop, Teknor Apex, and the University of Rhode Island, to name only a few.