Thank You!

On Saturday December 14th, over 600 children were registered to be served at HOPE Helps’ 17th Annual Christmas in the City event. Over 400 volunteers helped make this one of the largest holiday outreach events in Central Florida, providing Seminole County Families in need with over 1700 toys, school supplies, stocking stuffers, books, blankets, gift cards, hygiene items and more. The event was made possible by community donations and volunteer service, as well as many sponsors including Advent Health, who continues to be a presenting sponsor for the event. We received additional help from resource and partner agencies, including HOPE’s Interfaith Coalition who come together to provide support for those who need it most. Many client families remarked they would not have otherwise had the means of celebrating the holidays and getting gifts for their children.

Christmas in the City is our largest outreach event of the year, created in 2008 in partnership with HOPE’s Interfaith Coalition, giving hundreds of families in need the opportunity to choose gifts for their children ages  0-18. There will be toys, games, gift cards, blankets, books, new socks and underwear, and even stocking stuffers! Once the parents have selected gifts, they are reunited with their children who have been making crafts and visiting Santa. The family then receives a professional family portrait, a bag of food including holiday goodies, free lunch, and the opportunity to visit prayer tables and a variety of local partner resource agencies.