“I am a native of Tidewater and have spent my whole life here. I met and married the love of my life after college and we had one beautiful daughter. Unfortunately, our marriage did not turn out to be beautiful. After counseling and serious soul searching, we decided to divorce. So, I am now a single parent. I struggle every month to keep my job, pay our bills, and put food on our table. My ex-husband moved away and does not send enough child support to keep us going.
“I’m very uncomfortable to say that I had to call Jewish Family Service ( JFS) to ask for help. They were very kind and helped with my rent and car repairs. While there, JFS staff also told me about their annual Chanukah Gift Project for local children and teens. They told me to give them a wish list of things my daughter needed (clothes, school supplies, winter coat) along with things she would like to have (toys, games, books). JFS staff explained that with Chanukah coming in a few months that JFS had numerous very generous donors and that we could get gifts for my child. So, I went home and prepared a wish list. I never expected to get much and went to JFS a few months later to pick up the gifts for my child.
“Wow!!!! People ( JFS donors) I do not know got everything on her wish list. They even made the extra effort to match up outfits and gloves/scarf to match the winter coat. She got some great books and games that we will use all year long. They also gave me Chanukah wrapping paper, ribbons, and decorations. That really was important to me so I could personalize each gift that she opened. This is the message I wrote to all who helped my family last year or who may be helping us or another family again this year:
Dear Donors:
Words cannot describe the feeling I got when I saw the kindness of others. I’m so thankful for your generosity towards my family. My daughter does not ask for much, but I was able to give her a lot more than I would have without your help. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have done a very noble and thankful Mitzvah for my family this year. Happy Hanukkah to you!! From: A very thankful parent.
– Written on behalf of a local Jewish Family Service client