Holidays are a time of family, gifts and celebration. But for families in need, the ideal of bounty and joy can be an unattainable vision when the practicalities of paying for food and rent are often a struggle. 

It is in the Spirit of Giving that Children’s Friend created an annual holiday drive to connect generous individuals, families and organizations with vulnerable children in the community. By “adopting” a family in need, donors provide warm clothing, toys and books to families who live below the Federal poverty level and receive services from Children’s Friend throughout the year. 

The goal of this year’s Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive is to provide winter pajamas, coats, boots, mittens, clothing, books and toys to 5,500 children this December. 

“The cold weather and winter holidays are quickly approaching. This creates extra stress for families and children in need. The Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive seeks to match those in need with generous donors who are willing to help. One hundred percent of what we raise goes directly to families who have been pre-screened by our social workers. Those helped by the Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive are some of our state’s most vulnerable children and families,” said David Caprio, President and CEO of Children’s Friend.

Children’s Friends is a non-profit organization based in Providence that has been helping improve the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children for 185 years. With family-centered, seamless and outcome-driven programming, Children’s Friend provided services to 34,649 vulnerable children and their family members last year (95 percent of whom live below the Federal poverty level).

Children’s Friend social workers do regular home visits with the families who participate in foster care, Head Start, and WIC [The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children]. With first-hand observation of families’ employment and living situations, Children’s Friend social workers prioritize those families who are struggling the most and give them a place on the Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive list. (Based on the generosity of donations, only approximately 15 percent of those who participate in the year-round educational, parenting or work programs are selected to receive gifts, because priority must be given to those with the most challenging economic circumstances.) Last year, 5,380 children received warm clothing a book and/or a toy through the drive. 

The Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive runs from now through December 24. Individuals, churches, fraternal organizations and businesses are encouraged to step forward and sponsor a family or make a cash donation. “Every child is deserving of some holiday happiness,” added Caprio. “Most of these children have never had a new coat or pair of shoes. Our campaign donors give hope, instill pride and put these kids on the right path to helping them achieve their personal potential.”

The Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive involves many people from the community in the giving process– donors, volunteers, social workers and parents. People and organizations give money, goods, their time and in-kind services; every participant in the Drive is focused on bringing hope and joy to children at the holidays.

In October, the social workers connect with the parents (or caregivers) to make a list of winter essentials that their children require to arrive at school warm, dry and ready to learn. Donations from the public start arriving at Children’s Friend in November and with the help of volunteers, a warehouse is transformed into a “store” where the social workers “shop” for clients. By arranging donations by sizes, colors and character themes, social workers can select holiday gifts that are personalized and meaningful for each recipient. After gathering gifts for each family on their lists, the social workers deliver them directly to each home, along with holiday-appropriate wrapping paper, tape and bows. Parents (or caregivers) wrap the gifts and present them to their children on their holiday.

For information on how to donate, sponsor a family, or volunteer visit spiritofgivingdrive.org. You can also call 276-4346 or email holidaydrive@cfsri.org.