Our 2008 Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive was a great success with 625 vulnerable families receiving wonderful gifts and fulfilled wishes. The volume of donations outnumbered the many volunteers and staff but the efforts of all involved delivered the gifts on time for all the holiday celebrations of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Eid-al-Adha, Las Posadas, Bodhi Day, Three Kings Day, Lunar New Year, Japanese New Year, St. Nicholas Day and many others

The efforts of donors included corporate employees, church members, school children and their families, civic groups, individuals, and Children’s Friend staff.  Bank of America led the way once again by sponsoring over 115 families. Cox Communications delivered the gifts for their 66 families in a parade of Cox bucket trucks! MetLife not only sponsored 29 families but also took an active role in supplying necessities for two children with special needs. Panera Bread posted gift tags in their cafes which resulted in gifts for 80 children and their families. Citizens Bank employees rallied to once again support ten families. The many departments of Ross Simons actively provided for 11 families.   There were many other corporate sponsors including Teknor Apex and Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP. WB Mason assisted with a special delivery of gifts to our Central Falls site. St. Margaret’s Parish and East Greenwich Methodist Church members together sponsored over 18 families. 

Thank you from our families to the students of grades 3, 4, and 5 of The Mercymount Country Day School and the families of Stork Nest Child Care for the wonderful presents! The acts of heartfelt kindness were many, such as the four year old girl who gave her piggy bank savings to the little girl in her holiday family and the children who agreed to forego their gifts to give to others.

We were very fortunate to receive many toys and donations from independent fund raising. Joe Silva’s annual Holiday Party at the Knights of Columbus brought in over 200 toys and monetary donations. The office of the Vice President at the University of Rhode Island donated over 150 toys and the Lions Club of Providence delivered over 100 stockings filled with candy for the children.

Thank you to all of our sponsors! We're gearing up now for the 2009 Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive. Check back again soon for more information about how to get involved this year.