Program created to help Middle Tennessee children during the holidays
Nashville – Area nonprofit Youth Villages (YV) is searching for ‘Holiday Heroes’ to help make the season special for more than 3,000 children in care.
With Christmas approaching rapidly, more than 500 children do not have a “sponsor” for the holidays, according to YV. What is a sponsor? A sponsor is a shopper who “fulfills their wish list.”
The children have suffered. Many have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. Without help, they may not have a Christmas.
“Holiday Heroes has been helping children in the Middle Tennessee community for more than 17 years by connecting corporate and community volunteers to fulfill the holiday wishes of local youth,” according to the release. “Each child in services submits a wish list of three gifts they hope to receive, along with clothing sizes, hobbies, and other useful information to shop for that child. The average cost per list is $150-$200 and the deadline to participate is Thursday, Dec. 7.”
Ho ho ho – Youth Villages is working to help children in need fulfill their Christmas wishes. Photo courtesy of YV.
Greg Schott, assistant director of development at YV, says more children are entering care every day.
“Right now, we have more than 500 kids who still need their wish lists to be fulfilled, and this number will continue to grow as more and more children are entering care each day,” said Greg Schott, assistant director of development. “This year, we expect to serve more kids than ever before as the need for our services continues to grow, especially for young people who have aged out of the foster care system with no family support and are participating in our LifeSet program to receive guidance as they enter independent adulthood.”
Individuals, companies and groups (church, civic, social) are welcome to become ‘Holiday Heroes’.
“Everything raised during Holiday Heroes provides gifts to local children during the holidays, while also supporting the basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, beds, etc.) of the young people in LifeSet,” according to the release.
To sign up to be a Holiday Hero, visit Middle TN Holiday Heroes (donordrive.com). Once registered, volunteers will receive the requested number of wish lists. The drop-off date for delivering the children to Youth Villages is Thursday, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Heroes workshop at 301 Plus Park Boulevard, Ste. in Nashville.
YV will accept donations for Holiday Heroes throughout December to “ensure every child who enters their care has a holiday they will always remember.”
For more information about Holiday Heroes contact Lyndsay Wilkinson at Lyndsay.wilkinson@youthvillages.org.
Image by Freepik.
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