Dear Friends,  

The holiday season is rapidly approaching. We’re excited to once again be able to help up to 750 families with children in need through our Holiday Help Adopt-A-Family program!
 
Each year we receive hundreds of requests from those in need of assistance during the December holidays.  Our goal is to bring much needed relief for our neighbors in need by offering groceries, gift cards, or gifts using a “Shopping with Dignity” approach.  This approach enables the moms and dads to purchase and select gifts that best fit the needs and interests of their children.  It also enables them to maintain their personal dignity and to be the “holiday heroes” in the eyes of their beloved family. 
 

 
To meet this important need, we are looking for your help as part of a collective of hundreds of generous sponsors who will show strong support to raise the necessary resources for this compassionate program.  Your generous partnership enables us to bring valuable help and much-needed hope to families, such as Bella’s, who sent us the following note (names have been changed). 

"Hi, my name is Bella. I am a single mother of 3. My oldest is Brian he is 13.  My middle child is Miranda she is 11 and my youngest is Heidi she is 5. I recently moved back to the area after leaving for almost 3 years due to several traumatic events in our lives. I am currently struggling financially, and I am on county assistance. It is difficult for me to share this information, but I want you to know how important it is for us to receive help for Christmas. We moved away because my youngest Heidi was being abused. It shook our family to the core and struck a fear and pain in me I've never known. We are stronger today and I no longer want fear to control our lives. My middle daughter Miranda is autistic, she was diagnosed with abnormal chromosomal disorder when she was only 2. Then at 7 years old she was diagnosed with autism. Every day is a struggle, but it is also a wonder and blessing to share life with my precious angels. I have learned to appreciate the moments of “normal” in this life of chaos. Any help at all this Christmas would be amazing. Thank you."
 
While many seasonal programs only focus on the younger children, ages 0-12, we believe in providing Holiday Help for the entire family.  Sadly, the teenagers are often overlooked or given a lesser priority because it’s simply too expensive and difficult for donors to find a gift that will be meaningful for an adolescent child.  To help make this easier for everyone, we’re recommending that our kind supporters donate two gift cards per child, valued at $25 each ($50 total), AND to add a $25 grocery gift card for each of our registered families so they can enjoy a delicious holiday meal together.  
 

You are welcome to use your own sources to purchase gift cards; however, for your convenience, we recommend purchasing from our preferred partner RaiseRight using the link and highlighted ENROLLMENT CODE below.

 
RAISERIGHT:  
 
Enrollment Code:     LEAAAED286441 

 
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS for purchasing gift cards through RaiseRight are available by going to the following link: RaiseRight Instructions

Finally, for those who care for and want to help us remember our unsheltered friends we’re asking for your help in collecting 1,000 pair of new wool socks as we work together to provide a Holiday for those who are experiencing homelessness. 
 

 
Gift cards and wool socks can be dropped off, mailed, or shipped to our offices at:
Good in the ‘Hood C/O WayCross Church
7733 West River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55444
 
For after hour or weekend deliveries or when we are out of the office, please place the packages and gift cards in our secure drop-box outside the main doors of the church and office facility. 
 
The following videos help to offer a brief explanation of our some of our work and services:

Holiday Help Adopt-A-Family 
https://vimeo.com/755369086
 
KARE 11 Communities That KARE-Good in the ‘Hood
https://vimeo.com/713955722
 
We invite you to reach out to Jamie Morrison, Director of Operations/Human Resources, with any questions at Jamie@goodinthehood.org or 612-217-4003. 
 
Thank you so much for your support and have a MERRY MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY!
 
 

 
Thanks, so much for your kind support as we work together to influence, inspire, and impact individuals, families, and entire communities for good! We are truly grateful.