December 27, 2011

Last week I heard a story about our Holiday Drive that I found striking.  As you all know, we sponsored many families this year and staff throughout the agency delivered countless bags to homes and some families picked things up at the centers.  This story comes from a particular worker who had brought a bag to a family.  When the mother opened the bag, she said, “Oh!  Isn’t this wonderful – we get to pick out the gift we want”.  The worker explained to her that all the gifts were for her family and the mother began to cry.  The worker shared this story because is epitomizes the work that we do at Children’s Friend.

It seems easy for people to get caught up in the commercialism of the holidays – rushing to stores to find a great deal or fighting over the latest style of sneakers.  Whether you celebrate the holiday by decorating a Christmas, lighting a Menorah candle, or other tradition….there are certain themes of being thankful, being with family and giving to others that permeate this time of year.  And as we look to the year ahead, I am eager to continue to find ways to accomplish this critical work for our most vulnerable Rhode Islanders.  Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy, loving and stable family.  And every family deserves the support they need to be successful at this.

From all of us at Children’s Friend, we wish you a safe and joyful Holiday Season.