In 2021, the Richmond Christmas Fund gave out toys, reward playing cards and/or grocery vouchers to over 2,000 residents.
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Rising up, Spirit Musicorum didn’t a lot sit up for the vacations.
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“Christmas was form of hit-and-miss,” he stated. “I imply, for some time Christmas wasn’t something huge for me to sit up for.”
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Now, nonetheless, Musicorum appears to be like ahead to spending Christmas along with his spouse, Sharise Lynn Petty, and their youngsters, two-year-old Saphira Nanamo Petty and 5 1/2-year-old Sylvanas Catherine Petty.
Life remains to be a wrestle for the household, as a result of Musicorum and Sharise’s nervousness problems, which forestall each from working. Due to the Richmond Christmas Fund, nonetheless, they’re going to have one other gratifying vacation.
“We wouldn’t have even had a Christmas if it hadn’t been for the Fund,” he stated. “It was an enormous reduction to have the ability to afford Christmas dinner and to actually have a small quantity of issues for our daughter, who was a new child on the time we started receiving assist. It simply made us really feel human once more.
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“Christmastime is often a supply of immense strain. And to have that taken off and obtain that help, it’s one much less factor to emphasize about.”
A program of Richmond Cares, Richmond Offers, the Richmond Christmas Fund assists lots of of low-income households annually.
In 2021, it gave out toys, reward playing cards and/or grocery vouchers to over 2,000 residents. This yr, the fund is anticipating to assist shut to three,000 folks, stated Ryan Luetzen, the Richmond Cares, Richmond Offers supervisor of useful resource improvement and communications.
The fund depends partly on The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund. The funds are used solely to buy grocery vouchers.
“This yr, we’ve been capable of present one grocery voucher per member of the family, no matter family measurement, and assist from the Empty Stocking Fund has helped make that attainable,” he stated.
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Beneficiant readers donate to The Province fund, which helps not solely Richmond households, but additionally folks assisted by 25 different teams within the Decrease Mainland.
Musicorum picked up his household’s grocery vouchers and toys in late November. Hidden away from prying eyes till the massive day, the latter embody an Imaginarium Discovery set, a Construct-a-Bear, a Paw Patrol Final Rescue Fireplace Truck, a Little Mermaid toy set, a Funko Pop! vinyl determine, books and a Spider-Man bucket with a shovel.
“Silvanas loves Spider-Man,” he stated. “She’s simply super-excited to have the ability to open the presents and see one thing new, and he or she loves having the ability to assist her sister unwrap too. The large factor is the expertise of opening a gift that’s meant for her. The toys that they’ve provided have at all times been a success along with her.”
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The Richmond household’s vacation plans embody utilizing the grocery vouchers for a Christmas dinner with all of the fixings.
“My spouse makes an actual imply turkey,” Musicorum stated. “So we’re going to have turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes. And he or she’ll in all probability make her bean salad once more this yr. After which we’re not fairly certain but what we’re going to do for dessert but — perhaps a pumpkin pie.”
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