The Joyful Givers and Grand Angels Christmas Program have just wrapped up its season. Thanks to the generous support of many sponsors and volunteers, we were able to bring Christmas cheer to the faces of 172 children from 72 local families this year. In total, we received and dispersed nearly 600 gifts and $6,000 in monetary donations. In addition to gifts of clothing, toys, and games, we also purchased 105 pairs shoes and boots through the partnership with Rack Room Shoes in Castle Rock. Additionally, each family also went home with a gift card to either City Market or Mountain Food Market in Grand Lake.
Joyful Givers and Grand Angels wish to thank the many individuals and businesses that assisted with this year’s program. Without the support of the community, this program would not have been such a success. Our gratitude goes out to everyone that sponsored a gift, child, or family. Not only did we have many individual sponsors, we also had several business sponsors as well. We whole-heartedly thank Changes Thrift Store, Henderson Mine and Mill, and Winter Park Christian Church for sponsoring an overwhelming number of gifts. Special thanks also go to Mountain Family Center for the donation of 30 scooters and boxes of toys, Dahlia Ruiz for acting as our Spanish translator, Grand Angels and Trinity Church in the Pines for collecting monetary donations, Ace Hardware for donating wrapping paper, Winter Park Police Department and Grand County Sheriff’s Office for collecting participant forms and assisting with gift delivery, East Grand School District for helping us advertise the program, Granby Library for the use of their meeting space for gift wrapping and organizing, and Winter Park Christian Church for acting as our fiscal agent. Lastly, we wish to thank the volunteers that spent a whole day wrapping, organizing, and preparing gifts for pick up and delivery.
Though our program helped 72 families this year, it is only one of several Christmas giving programs in the community. There are many families facing hardship in Grand County. If this story touched your heart and sparked a desire to help other families in need, consider contacting Mountain Family Center, Grand Angels, or any of the food banks in the County. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!
