[Archived] Holiday Sharing Sponsors Needed for Families, Elderly

The Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services Holiday Sharing Program seeks sponsors for 83 senior or disabled residents and 109 families with children. You or your group can help make the 2013 holiday season brighter for those less fortunate by purchasing gifts or certificates for a designated Alexandria family, foster child or elderly/disabled resident.  Gifts may be delivered directly to recipients or brought to the City’s Community and Human Services Center at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue for distribution by staff.

More families have registered for the 2013 Holiday Sharing Program than in 2012 due to the increased number receiving benefits as a result of lower incomes and job loss.  In 2012, in collaboration with the non-profit organization Community Partners for Children, the DCHS Holiday Sharing Program assisted 748 families, 222 seniors and disabled persons, and 107 foster children and teens.  In addition to thousands of gift items distributed through Sponsor-a-Family, Sponsor-a-Senior-Citizen and Sponsor-a-Foster Child, donors also gave a total of $15,960 in gift certificates through the Sponsor-a-Teen program and $11,165 in grocery cards for seniors and families.

The Department of Community and Human Services is also seeking volunteers to help sort and deliver gifts at the Community and Human Services Center at 2525 Mt. Vernon Avenue on December 16, 17 and 18 in shifts from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Volunteers for the Community Partners for Children toy distribution are also needed for activities such as hosting collection bins for toy donations, sorting the toys on December 20 and 21 and assisting parents to select toys for their children, also on December 21 at the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, 2601 Commonwealth Avenue.

Individuals, families and groups can request more information about the program by contacting Suzanne Kratzok at 703.746.5663, or emailing holidaysharing@alexandriava.gov or register to participate at the website www.alexandriava.gov/holidaysharing.