Goddard Place recognizes that employment opportunities for families in rural areas are limited and that the holidays can create additional financial stress for many families. The season’s tradition of spending can be especially difficult for those who are unemployed or living paycheck to paycheck, and parents who wish to provide holiday joy for their children can often confuse wants with needs – purchasing a new toy when what is needed is a new coat. While gifts and food make the holidays brighter for many families, rent, utility bills, flu season and transportation needs continue throughout the year. At Christmas Blessings, we address both the wants and needs of families in a way that will last longer than the holiday season. Each child receives a special toy, and family bags are filled with personal items for each adult as well as gifts which promote family togetherness such as soup and cookie mixes, books, board games, and movie passes. Specific requests for children’s bedding and winter clothing have been honored each year. In addition, both the families and the community at large benefit from the presentation of gift certificates for local services such as utilities, car repair, groceries, gas, and child care. The enthusiastic support for this project reinforces the belief that it is vital to the community and fulfills a need for many families during the holiday season and beyond. 

The primary goal of Christmas Blessings at Goddard Place is to provide not only critical needs and financial support to local families in need, but to deliver a message of hope, love and blessings through games, crafts, food, and a new toy for every youth that attends.

Our objectives are to help less fortunate families in Graham County and surrounding areas experience the joys of Christmas, to assist in the development of healthy families and children, to unite the local community toward a common cause of giving for others, to support and encourage the contribution of adult and youth volunteers, and to contribute to the advancement of a stronger society.