Hope for the Holidays (web)

The Rogue Valley Times’ 2024 Hope for the Holidays series helped fulfill many holiday wishes, providing needed and wanted items for the community’s most vulnerable this holiday season.

From warm blankets, couches and space heaters to gift cards for groceries and gas stations, donations this year ran the gamut and provided a cheerful boost. 

The series kicked off just after Thanksgiving, featuring a family navigating their first Christmas following the devastating loss of a child.

Hearts With a Mission case manager Jenni Portwood said blankets and a $100 donation was gifted to the family to help bring some holiday cheer.

For a disabled mother and two boys served by Kids Unlimited Academy, community members donated everything from an electric kettle and food storage containers to a desperately needed space heater.

A wished-for item was a collapsible stroller that will now help the family, which relies on public transportation to get around town. A retired pastor’s $1,000 donation furnished a twin-size bed, mattress and bedding for the family’s 7-year-old boy, and a fellow KUA family provided coats. A donor in Medford provided a television and DVD player, while a Jacksonville woman donated the needed space heater and a Chuck E. Cheese gift card — the oldest brother’s Christmas wish.

In an unexpected blessing, employees of Action Transportation donated almost an entire month’s rent for the family, which has struggled since the unexpected death earlier this year of the woman’s boyfriend. Tom Cole, Kids Unlimited founder and CEO, said it was heartwarming to see the community step up to help show families in need that “Christmas is still a special time.”

For a single mother who overcame homelessness this year, more than $650 in gift cards — for local stores and services to make life a little easier — and a beauty spa treatment for the mother were donated. Board games for the family to enjoy together and requested art supplies for an older brother were also donated.

Family Nurturing Center spokesperson Joy Marshal said the community brought some much deserved happiness to the family.

“The Family Nurturing Center family featured this year is so thrilled to know that people of our community do care about each other,” Marshall said.

A survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault nominated by the Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Team received gifted funds to put toward the holiday season, plus warm, beautiful blankets.

A family served by OnTrack — in which both parents overcame addiction and have worked to rebuild a life for their son — was donated items to make a transitional living apartment feel more homey.

Marcia Sandoval, OnTrack clinical housing director, said a half-dozen donations trickled in for the family, including a requested 6-foot sofa for their new space. Sandoval said it was inspiring to witness the community come together to support a family in recovery.

“Four of the five donors said they had never donated to anything like this before, but the family’s story touched them,” Sandoval said.

“The family’s resilience and commitment to building a better future make them so deserving, and the generosity shown is a beautiful reminder of the power of compassion and unity that is in this community.”

Family facing first Christmas after devastating loss is building a life

Mom and two boys could use some comfort, a stroller this holiday season

Sibling group seeks holiday healing after suffering trauma in abusive home

Young family thrives in transitional housing after battling addiction

Living Opportunities client could use new clothes and a sturdy couch

Single mom moves from outbuilding into stable housing for the holidays

Survivors of domestic violence could use some holiday cheer

Single mom could use holiday warmth while rebuilding after homelessness