With the holiday season coming to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on the spirit of the season and what it meant for the students at For Love of Children. Every year generous partners provide gifts for every one of our students in each of our DC-based programs. It’s always a hectic time getting wish lists and picking up and distributing gifts, but it’s all worth it in the end when you see the students’ reactions!
This year, thanks to our partners TerpSys, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Advisory Board Company, along with a few generous individuals, we were able to grant wishes for every student. During the last week of program, FLOC staff put together fun-filled holiday themed celebrations where the kids received their gifts. You could hear different voices exclaiming “This is just what I wanted!” or “How did they know?” as students opened their gifts. One student’s mom even told us how excited her daughter was about the gift she received and that she wouldn’t stop talking about it.
Sometimes we can forget the true meaning of the holiday season, but at For Love of Children, experiencing the holiday spirit through the eyes of our kids makes a lasting impression. So, on behalf of the students, families, volunteers, and staff, thank you to our partners for reminding us what it means to give back to the community.
(Ellie Haga is the Executive Assistant at FLOC.)