Every Family Deserves Joy During The Holidays
The holiday season is here, and it’s supposed to be a time of joy and magic, as portrayed in seasonal advertisements and movie classics, where families exchange nice gifts and enjoy festive meals. However, for many low income families who live paycheck to paycheck, it can be the most stressful time of the year.
Harvest House: Supporting Those In Need
The poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore creates a sense of anticipation and excitement. As children are tucked snuggly in their beds, they dream of sugarplums dancing while mom and dad prepare for a peaceful sleep. Suddenly, the clatter of something interrupts the calm. It’s Santa, rosy-cheeked and jolly, who has arrived with a bag full of gifts for the family.
“He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk and laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!”
For income challenged families, the idea of a peaceful holiday season is overshadowed by concerns of scraping money together to buy gifts and pay for festive meals. Laughter can be minimal, while dread and anxiety can become overwhelming. In addition, there are worries about lost wages for taking time off work or childcare costs if parents have to work while the kids are at home during the holidays.
For these families, it isn’t about making more sacrifices or working harder. For many of them, there are no more frills left to cut and there are no more hours in the day available.
Besides the financial strain, many also experience social isolation during the holiday season. Due to the lack of resources, they may not be able to participate in holiday events or travel to visit loved ones, which can lead to loneliness and depression.
The contrast between these two visuals, one based on a poem written in the 1800s, is extreme. Still, unfortunately, for many individuals and families, it’s a harsh reality during the holiday season.
At Harvest House, we understand the significant impact that low income can have on individuals and families during the holiday season. Therefore, it is essential to identify these challenges and work towards supporting those in need during this time.
Our goal each holiday season at Harvest House is to show up as Santa did in the poem, assuring our Home Again families that they don’t have to dread the arrival of Christmas or any of the holidays.
2022 Harvest House Home Again Family Christmas
Help Us Spread Joy
We would be honored for you to join us in the mission of giving not only gifts, trees, decorations, or a fun family meal but also the gift of peaceful sleep with the promise of a joyful Christmas morning for our Harvest House clients.
There are several ways to help, including sponsoring a family’s holiday dinner, buying presents, volunteering to wrap gifts, or donating Christmas trees and decorations for Harvest House families and young adults. To participate, contact Emilie Campos at ecampos@harvesthousecenters.com
Let’s come together as a community to ensure everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season.
