The Christmas Gift Card program through THRIVE Peninsula is in full steam ahead. Through the generosity of many local individuals, businesses, and Churches, THRIVE Peninsula was able to reach their initial goal of raising $30,000, which will provide Christmas gift cards to benefit at least 400 children of low-income and disadvantaged families in our community. St. John’s played a big part in helping to reach this goal through the generosity of its parishioners and the Charitable Trust.
St. John’s was also one of the sites used to distribute these gift cards to families on Sunday afternoon, November 21. The families were very appreciative of the gift cards and told many heartwarming personal stories of what this meant to them and their children. In many cases this will be their only source of funds for gifts for their children.
Dan Clark was the Program Chair for the “Let Christmas THRIVE” program. This week Dan and Angela York, Executive Director at THRIVE, were interviewed by Ashley Smith, one of the news anchors from WVEC Channel 13 News. This was made possible by Greg Brauer. A big thanks to Greg for making this happen. A huge “thank you” goes out to the St. John’s community for their support of this program. As Tiny Tim said, “GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE”.
Originally published in St. John’s Newsletter, December 2021.