Empty Stocking Fund: Richmond Christmas Fund infects Spirit Musicorum's household with Xmas spirit

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Rising up, Spirit Musicorum didn’t a lot look ahead to the vacations.

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“Christmas was type of hit-and-miss,” he mentioned. “I imply, for some time Christmas wasn’t something huge for me to look ahead to.”

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Now, nevertheless, Musicorum appears ahead to spending Christmas along with his spouse, Sharise Lynn Petty, and their kids, two-year-old Saphira Nanamo Petty and 5 1/2-year-old Sylvanas Catherine Petty.

Life remains to be a battle for the household, attributable to Musicorum and Sharise’s anxiousness issues, which forestall each from working. Because of the Richmond Christmas Fund, nevertheless, they’re going to have one other satisfying vacation.

“We wouldn’t have even had a Christmas if it hadn’t been for the Fund,” he mentioned. “It was an enormous reduction to have the ability to afford Christmas dinner and to also have a small quantity of issues for our daughter, who was a new child on the time we started receiving assist. It simply made us really feel human once more.

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“Christmastime is often a supply of immense strain. And to have that taken off and obtain that help, it’s one much less factor to emphasize about.”

A program of Richmond Cares, Richmond Provides, the Richmond Christmas Fund assists tons of of low-income households annually.

In 2021, it gave out toys, present playing cards and/or grocery vouchers to over 2,000 residents. This yr, the fund is anticipating to assist shut to three,000 individuals, mentioned Ryan Luetzen, the Richmond Cares, Richmond Provides supervisor of useful resource improvement and communications.

The fund depends partly on The Province’s Empty Stocking Fund. The funds are used completely to buy grocery vouchers.

“This yr, we’ve been capable of present one grocery voucher per member of the family, no matter family dimension, and assist from the Empty Stocking Fund has helped make that potential,” he mentioned.

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Beneficiant readers donate to The Province fund, which helps not solely Richmond households, but in addition individuals assisted by 25 different teams within the Decrease Mainland.

Musicorum picked up his household’s grocery vouchers and toys in late November. Hidden away from prying eyes till the large day, the latter embrace an Imaginarium Discovery set, a Construct-a-Bear, a Paw Patrol Final Rescue Hearth Truck, a Little Mermaid toy set, a Funko Pop! vinyl determine, books and a Spider-Man bucket with a shovel.

“Silvanas loves Spider-Man,” he mentioned. “She’s simply super-excited to have the ability to open the presents and see one thing new, and he or she loves with the ability to assist her sister unwrap too. The large factor is the expertise of opening a gift that’s meant for her. The toys that they’ve supplied have all the time been successful along with her.”

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The Richmond household’s vacation plans embrace utilizing the grocery vouchers for a Christmas dinner with all of the fixings.

“My spouse makes an actual imply turkey,” Musicorum mentioned. “So we’re going to have turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes. And she or he’ll most likely make her bean salad once more this yr. After which we’re not fairly certain but what we’re going to do for dessert but — perhaps a pumpkin pie.”

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