The House of Mercy (HOM) is gearing up for their “Christmas with Mercy” program and they need your help.
Each year HOM does this program, which provides gifts to more than 350 children from qualified low-income families, and this year they’re expecting a shortfall in gift donations, according to a release. The program has been in existence for six years.
“We rely on individuals and civic groups who abhor the idea of a gift-less Christmas for any child. This is especially true for us who celebrate Jesus Christ’s selfless gift to humanity of Himself. It is through this lens we recognize how special each of us is to Jesus. It is in this spirit we provide gifts to kids who might not otherwise receive a gift,” stated HOM Executive Director Ann Cimini in a release.
In order for children to take part in the program, their parents need to participate in free classes that HOM runs, including “Personal Money Management, ESL, Cooking and Nutrition and faith formation,” stated a release.
According to HOM Assistant Director Felice Hilton, the economy in Prince William and the surrounding areas has led to a growing demand for their organization’s services.
“The local economy has remained fairly flat, with no jobs growth or an increase in purchasing power. This has created an even more pronounced negative impact for the families we serve. According to ‘Feeding America’, forty-nine percent of people living below poverty level in Prince William County earn too much money at low-paying jobs to be eligible for government assistance. They turn to faith based agencies like House of Mercy for supplemental food and assistance,” stated Hilton in a release.
In order to make this holiday season a success for HOM’s qualified children, volunteers and donations are needed.
“We love to welcome groups and individuals to help with the annual event. People may visit our website then follow the link to our SignUpGenius page, to sign up online for their volunteer job and time. Volunteer slots start on Wednesday December 7 and end with the event on Saturday December 10 when our client parents come to the gift distribution,” stated Hilton in a release.
More on donating, from a release:
Gifts are accepted at the HOM Donation Center during regular donation hours. The Donation Center is located at 8162 Flannery Court, Manassas. Gifts must be received at HOM by Thursday December 8. Because client children might be receiving only one gift, HOM requests the gifts to be valued in the $20-$25 range.
