Adrienne's Story

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

Last week, in the midst of a crazy busy day, I had one of those luminous interactions that reminds you why exactly it is that you do what you do.

It was a phone call from a woman named Adrienne. Her son was a participant in our Christmas Gift Program this year and she was calling to express her thanks.

“I am just so grateful,” she said. “People went above and beyond. I had no idea people would be so nice to my son.”

“As a parent, not being able to buy things for your child is hard. My son had no undershirts without a hole in them. And he needed slippers badly. Everything he needed, he received – clothing and books. He loves to read. No one has ever done anything like that before.”

“I’ve always believed that nobody owes you anything. Nobody told me to have my child. No one told my husband to leave. No one owes me anything. So for someone – a stranger! – to go out of their way and make Christmas for my child…”

“I wish I could hug them. I wish I could drop to my knees and just hug them. We know that we have been blessed by these people.”