Nashua Nonprofit Fulfills Christmas Wishes Of 500 Local Children

Nashua NH

22 December, 2020

1:54 PM

Description

Press release from the Front Door Agency: Dec. 22, 2020 Nearly 500 local children in need had their holiday wish lists fulfilled this year by 84 organizations and individuals comprising hundreds of donors that provided gifts through the Front Door Agency's Annual Holiday Program. The non-profit, which helps families in Greater Nashua transition from crisis situations to self-sufficiency, paired families in need with "adopters" who donated nearly $100,000 worth of toys, warm clothing, and groceries to more than 215 families this year. The Agency has offered a Holiday Program since its inception and this is the fourth consecutive year that the Courtyard by Marriott and Roedel Companies provided space to collect and sort gifts. "Throughout Roedel Companies, there's a common thread that connects us all together- our core values, one of which is investing in the communities we serve," said Greg Geddes, the hotel's general manager. "It has been our pleasure to partner with the Front Door Agency for the past four years by providing space to host their annual Holiday Program. With such a challenging year almost behind us, it has been overwhelming to see the generosity of our community to assist those families in need." As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency changed its drop-off and pick-up procedures to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Volunteers wearing masks greeted donors and collected gifts curbside at the Courtyard by Marriott Nashua to minimize the number of people entering the hotel. Inside, masked staff members remained socially distant as they sorted gifts and prepared them for pick-up, which was also curbside. "The current pandemic has not only changed the way we run the Program, but also what it means to families this year," says Maryse Wirbal, CEO of the Front Door Agency. "Many parents in Greater Nashua have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 and others are working reduced hours to accommodate their children's remote learning schedules. These families are struggling to make ends meet. Our Holiday Program relieves the financial pressure of the holidays and provides a sense of joy and normalcy for children in need. Thanks to the generous individuals, organizations and businesses in Greater Nashua that provided gifts this year, these families will have something to look forward to on Christmas Day." The Front Door Agency saw an overwhelming number of single mothers register for assistance through this year's Holiday Program. Michelle is one of them, a single mother of five children ranging in age from two to seventeen. When schools went fully virtual, she quit her job to stay at home and help them with remote learning, including her oldest daughter who has a developmental disorder and needs a lot of one-on-one assistance. She is struggling to make ends meet but, with no other childcare options, she cannot afford to go back to work until schools reopen. This is her first time receiving assistance through the Holiday Program. "Thank God for this," she said. "It's been a hard year for all of us and I would never be able to make Christmas special on my own." The Agency is once again humbled by the community support it receives for the Holiday Program. Local BAE Systems employees donated a literal truck full of gifts, enough to fulfill the wish lists of 175 children. In addition to providing gifts for 50 children this year, The Rotary Club of Nashua West used funds originally earmarked for its holiday party to create gift baskets including household necessities and grocery store gift cards for each of these families. The Holiday Program also receives support from the Nashua Telegraph United Way Santa Fund. If you would like to make a difference this holiday season, please consider donating to local nonprofits like the Front Door Agency that are addressing some of the most pertinent issues in our community including affordable housing, homelessness, food insecurity and mental health issues. This year, the IRS is allowing taxpayers to deduct up to $300 in donations made to qualifying charities in 2020 when they file their taxes in 2021. To donate to the Nashua Telegraph United Way Santa Fund, please visit https://tinyurl.com/santafund2020. About the Front Door Agency Last year, the Front Door Agency assisted more than 1,140 people in Greater Nashua through its core programs including Transformational Housing for single mothers, Financial Literacy, a Holiday Program, and a Housing Stability Program offering assistance with rent, utilities, security deposit loans and permanent affordable housing. To learn more, visit www.frontdooragency.org. This press release was produced by the Front Door Agency. The views expressed here are the author's own.