Every child deserves the magic of waking up on Christmas morning to find gifts from Santa waiting under the tree. One way ECS supports our families during the holiday season is through Family-to-Family for the Holidays.
Family-to-Family for the Holidays, ECS’ annual gift-giving campaign, ensures that every family has a memorable holiday season. Donors who sign up as sponsors are matched with a family that includes at least one member who currently receives services from one of ECS’ programs. In 2023, Family-to-Family provided gifts for more than 315 neighbors from 70 families. Thanks to generous sponsors, many children got to experience a magical Christmas day, a gift you cannot put a price on.
Precious’ four kids have all been impacted by ECS and the generosity of Family-to-Family sponsors. *November 2024.
Head Start parent and 2023 Family-to-Family recipient Precious is a mother to four children, and, like any parent, she understands just how important childhood Christmas can be. “It’s really important for me to be able to give them something and give them different experiences,” she said.
Every year for Christmas, Precious’ family decorates their house with twinkling lights and enjoys their own family traditions, one of their favorites being marshmallow fights. “I buy bunches and bunches of marshmallows, and we have marshmallow fights,” Precious explained, laughing. “We say ‘one, two, three, go,’ and we just start chucking them at each other, ‘got you, got you.’” Afterwards, they put all their blankets on the floor in front of the TV and watch movies while sipping on apple cider or hot cocoa.
Family traditions and fun moments like opening presents on Christmas create a full and beautiful childhood experience. *November 2024.
Thanks to Family-to-Family, Precious was able to create lasting memories for her children with the joy of carefully chosen, donated gifts. When Precious gives her kids gifts, she often wraps the gift inside several layers of boxes. By happenstance, the Family-to-Family sponsor who was matched with Precious’ family last year wrapped the gifts the same way, much to her kids’ excitement.
Precious’ sponsor, Melinda, went the extra mile with her gift for Precious, too. Precious shared that she received a set of lotions that lasted for months.
Melinda has participated in holiday gift programs with a number of organizations through the years, but the opportunity for connection between the family and their sponsor makes ECS’ program extra impactful on both sides. “Back then we never met the families or even knew their names. I think that addition to the ECS program makes it super special,” Melinda said. “When I dropped the gifts off at Precious' apartment last year it was clear to see how full her hands were and, despite that, she was gracious, and the kids were adorable (as they usually are).”
“The Family-to-Family Christmas program is a perfect way to show empathy and bridge the sad divide between families that have so much and families that have so little. It is a small thing that can have a huge effect,” Melinda said.
Precious pays it forward through donations to FEC, so other parents have what they need to care for their children, too. *November 2024.
“It’s so nice to know that you can lean on and count on a beautiful person to donate,” Precious said. “I hope I have an impact like that, too.”
Precious feels passionate about being part of the cycle of giving, making her own donations – such as clothes, sheets, and pillowcases – to the ECS Family Engagement Center to help support other families in the community.
ECS Head Start has provided quality education and childcare for Precious’ four children, but ECS’ touch has gone beyond those essentials. Precious was able to use many of ECS’ wraparound services including Head Start’s prenatal program and referrals for speech therapy for two of her children. “This is one of the best programs I’ve ever interacted with that can actually advocate for you and is with you,” she said.
ECS has helped increase Precious’ confidence as a parent and leader. *November 2024.
Head Start’s community of care expands to parents, as well. Precious participates in parent meetings and the policy committee, sat in on interviews for teachers, and traveled to Texas to represent ECS at a Head Start convention. “[Head Start] helped strengthen my confidence in how I was parenting and what I saw in my children,” she said.
ECS programs like Head Start and Family-to-Family for the Holidays aim to support families like Precious’. “My children have been touched in a positive way by ECS all their lives,” Precious said.
Join the cycle of giving. Visit ecscalifornia.org/donate to support parents like Precious and help our youngest community members thrive. As Precious put it, “there’s a gift in giving.”
*Caption dates may not be exact.