Every year, FPC collects holiday gifts for the guests of two domestic violence shelters. Santa’s elves will continue on with this tradition this year, although with a few changes due to COVID-19.

Background

For more than 15 years, our FPC community has stepped up to buy gifts for children, women and men who are fleeing domestic violence. We started first assisting Renewal House, a shelter for women and children in Roxbury which is connected to the UU Urban Ministry, and on whose board our former minister Tom Rosiello served. When Diane Miller took over this project, we added a second shelter, Voices Against Violence, where Diane had volunteered for years. You can learn more about each of these shelters at these two links—Renewal House and Voices Against Violence.

Our Efforts in 2020

Both Voices Against Violence and Renewal House have expressed the overwhelming need for us to continue our tradition of providing gifts or gift cards for their guests. For some time now, both Shelters have had to place their participants in motels/hotels with the Staff mostly working remotely from home. With the confinement that the virus has caused, domestic violence looms large as a threat to many of our neighbors. Through our holiday gift giving, we can at least help bring some joy to the guests of these facilities.

We have been supplied with the wants and wishes from the women, men and children as usual. The lists are available at this SignUpGenius link. All of the information about names, genders, sizes and wishes will be found along with instruction on how to “adopt” gifts to buy will be found at the SignUpGenius link. The lists will be available for five weeks. Unwrapped gifts must be returned to the FPC Atrium on Friday, December 4 from 3 – 5 PM or Saturday, December 5 from 10 AM – 2 PM.

Thanks to all who have participated in past years to make this wonderful project a huge success. We hope that each of you will continue your generosity this year as able, as the need is big and the reward even bigger. Each year, we receive wonderful thank you notes from both shelters, expressing how grateful they and their guests are for our efforts. Let’s keep up the great work and spread the love this holiday season!

Any questions, contact gift-drive@fpc-stow-acton.org.

Quotes

“Every year I purchase gifts for the shelters and send my parents a card saying that I have done so in their honor.  I do this in lieu of a Christmas gift for them, as they are elderly, live in a small apartment, and do not want for anything.  They love that the money is spent on those in need, rather than another sweater or scarf for them.”  – Sue Moses

“For me, the FPC Holiday Gift Giving drive provides a very tangible way to make a difference in someone’s life. Aside from the gifts themselves it’s the supportive message they bring the recipient: Someone cares." – Quinci Sprague