Timmins & Area Women in Crisis is proud to offer, for the third consecutive year, the Christmas Wish program. This program offers low income families a chance at a nice Christmas thanks to sponsors and community donors.
Families with low income who are working hard at trying to get ahead but are currently in need have the ability to apply to the agency as a Christmas Wish Recipient. A committee has been formed to review the applications and award them according to need and individually assessed situations.
This program is made possible by sponsors and donors within our community who open their hearts and share in this joyous holiday season. An average wish can be anywhere from $200 - $500. Sponsors can specify if they wish to deliver the wish themselves, or have a representative deliver and they can also specify whether they prefer to shop for the family themselves or provide a cash/cheque donation whereby the staff and volunteers at Timmins & Area Women in Crisis will do the shopping and wrapping etc.
Julie Demarchi, executive director talked about a child whose family couldn't afford a Christmas tree. The little girl looked across the street, watching the neighbors house daily. They has a tree. When this message was sent to the Timmins and Area Womens in Crisis office, a sponsor was contacted and delivered a tree early for this family. This is what Christmas Wish is about.
Two sponsors were in attendance to make their contribution to the Christmas Wish. Marcel Pelchat from Ontario Power Generation, Domenic Rizzuto and Patricia Buttineau of Goldcorp.
“We’ve actually been involved with the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis Centre for over 10 years I think now, and supporting the Christmas activities over that time,” said Rizzuto. “Certainly, Timmins has a lot of deserving families that are underprivileged, or in need, or in special circumstances, that at this time of year require an extra boost and so for us, it’s just a great partnership with this organization that’s done such a wonderful.“ Gold Corp / Porcupine Gold Mines donated $5000.
With the holiday season fast approaching, you may either know someone in need who may qualify for the program and/or wish to sponsor or partially sponsor a family this year. If you would like to nominate a recipient or become a form of Santa to a family in need, please contact us for further details. Wise man Winston Churchill once said "We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give".
