Christmas is a time of wonder and joy for most of us. However, many of the seniors that Livingston County Catholic Charities (LCCC) serves through our annual Christmas Blessing project, a community supported project, are homebound and low-income. Winter months are a tough time of year for our vulnerable seniors who have to contend with higher utility costs that affect their ability to purchase food or life-saving medications on their limited incomes. We often hear, too, that they feel forgotten during this time of year and are so overjoyed when they receive their special Christmas delivery.
LCCC Board of Directors and co-workers have seen a tremendous outpouring of love and help during this great time of unknown and crisis with COVID-19 through generous donations of funds, items and through volunteer time for our annual Christmas Blessing project. This project brings help, hope and love to local homebound and low-income seniors.
We are truly grateful to all of our community partners who stepped up to help many of our county’s most vulnerable seniors, even as many of you struggle. This year, 6 volunteers and a number of staff spent 181 hours soliciting, receiving and packaging the numerous donations at the Marion Township Hall as they readied for the deliveries. During December 9th – 11th, 71 cheer-filled volunteers delivered the generously donated items in the Christmas Blessing boxes to 170 seniors while also spreading love and cheer.
Community volunteers along with LCCC staff began planning LCCC’s annual Christmas Blessing project as early as August. They worked tirelessly in the community seeking donations of food, paper products, grants and cash with a combined value exceeding $21,000; then packing and delivering the food boxes with hygiene products, paper and cleaning products. One of our delivery volunteers, local business owner Kate Lawrence of Lawrence Auto Body Shop and county commissioner, shares, “I have always supported Catholic Charities and to have the opportunity to deliver Christmas Love to our seniors is an honor.”
Suzi Snyder, director of senior services, shared that “in the last several years, this project has grown from serving 112 seniors to serving 170 this year, a 34% increase.”
She also shared that several of the volunteers reported that the seniors were tearful when they saw the packaged items. Each assisted individual or couple is either served through one of LCCC’s senior service programs or was referred through one of our many community partners and churches.
We gratefully share the list of the many donors and hope that you will support them in return. We are stronger as a community when we work together and support each other. This is an example of true collaboration between the community, LCCC and many other concerned individuals and organizations. We are truly thankful for this support on behalf of the people that we serve. Thank you and God Bless!
Alliance Catholic Credit Union
Amazon Wish List Supporters
Amman Family
Justin & Michelle Anderson
Arbenowski Family
John & Kathi Backhuus
Therese Brennan
Celeste Brooks
Brighton Up Bakery
Laura Campbell
Catholic Foundation of Michigan
Coalition of Oral Health for Aging
Cowdrey Family
Barb & Richard Czarnota
Dearborn Sausage Co.
Dan Hall—Pinckney Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram
Extreme Machine
Friend of the Court
Gleaners
Carol Griffith – Griffith Realty
Hartland Lions Club
Holy Spirit Catholic School
Robert Jagow Jr.
Penny Jones
K of C #2659
K of C #7304
K of C #11761
Bette Klann
Janet Kosiba
Gary Kozyra
Krazy Kookie Momma
Bob & Kay Kuch
Rob & Deb Kwapisz
LCCC Employees
Chris Larson
Marion Township Hall
Scott & Cheryl McLeay
Thersia Mendolia
Sherry Meyers
Linda Myers
Georgianna Paul
Jim and Charlotte Ratke
Michael & Joleen Rebarchik
Pat Reimer
Sue Remer-Smith
Chris & Richard Romanowski,
Shepherd of the Lakes
Marie Sheridan
Splashy Sweets
St. Agnes Christian Service Committee
Prayer Shawl Committee & Parishioners
St. Augustine Parishioners
Jackie St. Germain
St. Joseph School & Quilters
St. John the Baptist Parishioners & 59er Club
St. Mary Parishioners
St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners
St. Patrick School Families
St. Patrick Christian Service & Parishioners
St. Joseph Mercy – Family Medicine Program
Brad Jones – Strickler Jones Financial
Universal Container Corp.
Wysocki Family
Some of the recipients shared with us their joy over receiving the care packages:
- “Thank you very much. I don’t know how to say it, but thank you very much. I really, really, really appreciate it. You almost got me crying. I just never had anybody give me that much.”
- “I just wanted to leave a message thanking you and everyone for the generous Christmas gifts. They were outstanding, awesome, and thoughtful and kind of all of you. In return, I wish everyone a very happy, merry, healthy Christmas and New year. Thank you so much. Words escape me. I thank you and God bless you all.”
- “You are humble calling it a Christmas Basket, it is so much more. Thank you so much.”
Livingston County Catholic Charities