Non-profit groups making a difference for people at Christmas

As Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ, many people are sharing to help less fortunate people enjoy Christmas.
Gathering earlier this month with Tri-Valley Men of Hope, I learned about Monthly Miracles and signed up for their newsletter. Their fundraising is simple: give $1 a month and when lots of people do that, lots of people can be helped. They partner with CityServe of the Tri-Valley and Tri-Valley Seek and Save to help people get back on their feet.
The CityServe year-end newsletter described their partnership that helped a Livermore school district employee whose hours had been cut due to virtual school. In addition, the family of five was facing health issues. Cornerstone Fellowship pitched in with a “care crew” and the team paid some bills to help the family get back to a stable situation when his hours were restored.
The newsletter also cited a woman who lived in a creek for two years while working toward her sobriety while holding down a full-time job. CityServe connected her to resources and she’s now living in a home of her own.
Monthly Miracles described a family of six with the parents overcoming addiction and finding stable employment. Housing was a problem as they stayed in their car, couch surfed (with six people if you can imagine) and stayed in hotels. Both parents were working, but the expenses associated with their situation ate up their funds. Partnering with Seek and Save and Cornerstone, the family now has stable housing within their budget and the kids are thrilled with their bunk beds.
A single 66-year-old man lost his job due to the pandemic. He volunteered at a Monthly Miracle outreach and the team realized he needed a miracle of his own because his temporary housing was ending. The case manager worked with him and ministered to his faith and helped with transportation and housing. He landed a job within his skill set and now has stable housing.
The newsletter said, “that he is a walking miracle testimony! He is incredibly grateful and has renewed hope, and he is seeing an amazing growth in his walk with the Lord.”
Finally, the writer told about a single mom and her four children who were living in unhealthy conditions that their landlord was not addressing. The team relocated them into a new home and provided new furnishing because most of theirs was damaged at the prior apartment. Her son’s teacher found Monthly Miracles on social media and engaged others at his school with the family.
Sharing good news like this demonstrates what can happen when people and organizations partner to pitch in for a family or individual. We have learned over the last year just how great the need is in this “affluent” valley. CityServe worked with 1,407 people last year including 520 single moms. Our church partnered with Valley View School to serve 63 families with Christmas baskets.
If you’re planning year-end financial gifts this season, consider finding organizations like these I’ve written about that are hands-on serving people. Incidentally, Monthly Miracles will celebrate Christmas tomorrow morning when families can meet other families who took their ornament off an angel tree and took care of their Christmas list.
Merry Christmas