t is often said: “It is better to give better than to receive.” And personally speaking, I know this is a fact. That’s why I’ve made it my life’s mission to help as many causes as I possibly can.
The holidays are an especially difficult time for many in our community. There are children all around the country that will never know the magic of a bountiful holiday meal or the simple joy of unwrapping gifts. So, as a company, we decided to spread some much needed holiday cheer and adopt two families via CBS 4’s Neighbors4Neighbors Adopt-a-Family Program. And what a soul-satisfying experience it was!
On December 9th, we started by hosting a “Dress Down for a Cause” day. With a $10 donation, over 300 employees wore jeans and holiday sweaters to work that day. The response was downright overwhelming. Through our collective efforts and our employees’ generosity, we were able to collect a record amount of donations. We then used the monies to buy all the items on the wish lists provided by each family. The children ranged in age from 2 to 17 years old. So we were thrilled to be able to get them all toys, clothes, shoes, a Publix Family Dinner box, plus extra gift cards for groceries and necessities for the parents.
Lastly, on Sunday, December 18th we had the privilege of being able to personally deliver our donations to our two families. We secured a core group of volunteers and left in a multi-car caravan from The Collection. Like Santa and his reindeer (except our reindeer packed a bit more HP) we knocked on each of the families’ doors and were greeted with smiles and a little awe as our group of about 20 showered them with gifts. The entire experience was unforgettably touching and reminded me yet again how blessed I am in my own life and how much support our community needs.
I highly recommend learning more about Adopt-A-Family and becoming a donor. You can learn more about the program here: http://neighbors4neighbors.org/
I know this much is true: It is a decision you will never forget. For us, this is a new tradition we will cherish for years to come.
Happy holidays to all!
