Ruth Blick, director of marketing and communications, wrote on behalf of Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan and all the Holiday Needs participants to thank the community for helping make sure that no child, family or homeless individuals was left out of the wonders of the holidays because they were in need.
"The warmth, hope and the holiday spirit was felt by more than 1,500 people as they received toys, gifts winter accessories and essentials through the Greater Grand Traverse and Leelanau Holiday Needs Programs," Ruth wrote.
Ruth went on to mention all the individuals, organizations and businesses that donated gifts and toys or made contributions, including Art Van for awarding the Holiday Needs Program a $15,000 challenge grant as part of its Million Dollar Charity Challenge.
Ruth also sent special thanks for their outstanding efforts to Mary Stanton, program coordinator, and all of the incredible volunteers; Cherryland Center for hosting the Holiday Store in Grand Traverse County; the Lake Leelanau VFW Hall for hosting the Leelanau County Holiday Needs Store; and Toys for Tots.
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Catholic Human Services offers a Host Home Program for Homeless Youth that provides high school students living in unhealthy situations qualified homes where they can live safely while they complete high school. The program has successfully helped more than 100 students in the five years since it was founded.
"A modest stipend is paid monthly to each host family to help defray the cost of having a teen live with them," wrote Marybeth Novak, Host Home coordinator. "All funds for the program have been raised locally and every year is becomes more difficult to secure a budget that allows the program to serve a small portion of the kids who through not fault of their own, find themselves needing safe stable housing."
Shortly before Christmas, a couple who became aware of the program in 2009 hosted a "Party with a Purpose" at their home. The goal was to make sure each current Host Home student received Christmas gifts that they identified as wants or needs. Approximately 45 people attended the event.
Marybeth had the pleasure of delivering wrapped presents to each Host Home participant and would like to say a huge thank you to all the people who made this possible.
"The caring and generosity of the host, hostess and party attendees will not be forgotten by any of the teens or their host families," Marybeth wrote.
Marybeth also won't forget the help she received when she got stuck in a large snowbank while delivering the gifts. She asked one young man for help and he successfully towed her car out of the snowbank with help from a couple of other men. She didn't get their names, but the incident happened in a subdivision off Vance Road that includes Holland Circle, Lamar and Voss drives and Cumberland Road.
"Some people never encounter special angels," Marybeth wrote. "I feel blessed to have encountered many within a 48-hour period. To all involved, thank you so very much. This was the Christmas spirit alive and well in Traverse City!"
Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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