Over the weekend of Saturday, December 13th, and Sunday, December 14th, we proudly held our annual Holiday Gift Drive and Distribution. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we were able to collect and distribute gifts for more than 650 children across 416 families and provided gift cards for 168 seniors! We served 68 more households than last year, 98 more children, and 35 more seniors.
Volunteers spent the entire day Saturday sorting and organizing the hundreds of incoming gift donations, carefully preparing everything for the distribution the following day. Each child received two gifts or gift cards, seniors received over $4,000 in gift cards to Target or Walmart, and LCAC households received over $22,000 in Food Lion and Giant gift cards as well.
Sunday was gift distribution day! Early in the morning, delivery drivers set out to bring gifts directly to 138 households. Later that evening, families began to arrive to receive their gifts. The gifts were packed in black bags so parents could decide how to share them with their children. LCAC staff and volunteers lined up outside in the frigid air, ready to distribute gifts to families driving past the center. As the sun went down, everyone had rosy cheeks and noses (with temperatures in the 20’s and frozen apple cider), but it was worth it to see the smiling faces of the parents who showed so much heartfelt gratitude and appreciation!
It was a truly meaningful weekend, and we are deeply thankful to every donor, volunteer, and community member who helped make this event a success!