Holidays are a time for people to gather with family and celebrate all of the blessings that have came their way throughout the year. Unfortunately, there are those who struggle to enjoy the holidays because they do not have the financial means to celebrate in a manner like most Americans. As a mother I know that this is increasingly difficult when you have children.

Children, for the most part, enjoy what celebrations their parents are able to provide, and then when they get to school everyone is talking about what their family did. Can you imagine going to school after a holiday break and learning that while you sat down to a meager meal for Thanksgiving your classmates feasted on an assortment of foods? I hate the thought of any child going without at any time of the year, but during the holidays I wish for all children to be blessed equally.

When Eden Fantasys put the word out that they were going to be reaching out to the communities to help families I became immediately emotional. I grew up in a middle class family where both of my parents worked. My dad was a journeyman and my mother a nurse. We always had what we needed, and more than not even what we wanted. Life was good. Our family never kept our blessings to ourselves, instead, my parents taught my siblings and I the importance of helping others. This lesson has never left me, and is one of the traditions I passed down to my children, and pray they do the same with theirs.

Through my Google search I found Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc (FVPS). I did some quick research online before contacting them. I was impressed when I read that their services included more than just what the name implied. FVPS offers the following services:

Counseling Services for Women, Men, and Children

Children’s Services Program developed for the specific emotional and social needs of children

Violence Intervention Program teaching men and women who have abused their partners to change their behavior

Transitional Housing Program

P.O.W.E.R. Program (Providing Options With Educational Resources) offering GED, ESL, Computer Literacy, and Banking Basics Education

Youth Substance Abuse Intervention Program serving juvenile court and school-referred adolescents and their families

Community Based Counseling Program providing individual counseling services to residents of all San Antonio homeless shelters

Legal Services Program providing free legal assistance to income-eligible victims of domestic violence.

Court Liaison Program linking victims involved with the legal system to professional intervention, and helping families work with the Court.

There was no question in my head, we would be able to find a family through this service.

I called and was directed to Ms. Melissa, FVPS’s volunteer coordinator. I told her about our wonderful community, and how we would like to inquire about helping. She told me of a few families, but none seemed to match what I thought we should help. I asked her if she had a family that she worried she would not be able to find a fit for. I could hear the smile in her voice when she told me about the next family; a family of ten. The family included Gilbert, age 43 and Rose Marie, age 40. Together they had six adopted children still living in the home. Jose, age 15; Marisol, age 12; Marco, age seven; Amaya, age seven; Christian, age seven; Christians twin brother Cristobal, also seven. Their oldest adopted son lived out of the house. After years of thinking they would never be able to have children naturally, Gilbert and Rose Marie were blessed with another child, Gilbert Jr. who is now three. Gilbert Jr. was born with Cerebral Palsy which forced Rose Marie to give up her career to stay home and take care of their son. Although it provided less income for the family, the couple was happy to make the sacrifices as they knew they were blessed by family.

I knew instantly after hearing their story that this was the family we were meant to adopt for Thanksgiving. Although I had yet to meet them, I instantly felt connected as my husband and I have attempted adoption (we have had three unsuccessful matches) and we have a special needs child.

I took the information to Victoria at EF and she was as excited as I was, and agreed the family sounded perfect.

I called out to all the wonderful people in the EF community, and we worked together with EF to raise money for Thanksgiving dinner.

Eden’s started us off with $200 for the meal. I knew with my frugal shopping I could do more than provide the family with a meal for this amount. I was excited to know that we were going to go far and beyond what we had signed up to do and I was elated.

On November 1^st I received a request from Ms. Melissa. She had another family that was still without a sponsor, and she wanted to know if we could help. I knew I could financially make it happen, and I went to Victoria and the rest of the EF community to ask how I should answer. The response was overwhelming. Everyone agreed that if we could make it happen for this other family that we should. I called Ms. Melissa back and gave her the wonderful news.

The second family included single mother Maria, age 37; Jovahana, age 19; Julian, age 15; Karina age 10; Jessica, age 8; Ruben, age 12 and Abcde (pronounced ab-sa-dee), age two.

With this new family EF did something I did not expect, they raised the initial amount of money to $300, giving us $100 extra of base money to spend on the two families. Although confident that I could provide the two meals on $200, they wanted to make a big impact on these families.

In just three days the EF community donated $504.68 of their points and gift cards, giving us an additional $252.34 for our families. When I shared this with my husband he was as impressed as I with the $552.34 total and although not a part of EF, he wanted to help. He donated the remainder of the money to bring us up to a $600 total.

$600 is a lot of money, even when buying for two large families. I knew this from the start, but I did not quite understand how far it would go. It took me three trips to the store to load up my entire trunk and back seat with food and goodies for our families. During the entire shopping time I even lost ten pounds from pushing around multiple carts and loading and unloading. I even had to go out and purchase a deep freezer to house all the frozen food.

Days before my scheduled drop off days I prepared by sorting the non-perishable items and placing the two huge turkeys in my fridge to thaw in time for Thanksgiving. I was both excited and nervous to meet the families. I wondered if I would cry when we met, or if I would feel uncomfortable in the home of a stranger.

The second families drop off day was two days before Thanksgiving. I brought my friend Maria along as I was informed that the family did not speak English. I was glad to know that there was someone there with me, even if it was just to assist me with communication. When we found the house I opened my trunk and approached the door. My stomach sank out of excitement to see the faces of this family. I knocked on the screen door that was shut and looked into the house as the main door was fully open. A little girl in just her panties came to the door. I looked at Maria and she started speaking to the girl, and asked her to get her mother.

The mother was not at home, but at work. I can imagine that a single mother of six works a lot, and I believe that this was not at all uncommon. The eldest daughter came to the door and Maria introduced us. We received a questioning look, and were invited it. Something told me that the oldest girl spoke English, and so I asked Maria to ask. When Maria questioned her, the girl laughed and told us “yes” in English.

All of the children who were home assisted us in carrying in the groceries to a large dining table in the back of the house. Before we were even done bringing it all in the table was covered, and some items had to be set on the floor. I looked around at all we had provided for this family and I had a sense of pride in being able to represent the EF community.

The next morning I drove from San Antonio to Sommerset, Texas to make our second delivery. My children were on Thanksgiving break so they came with. They asked me a lot of questions on the drive out. Although they knew that mommy was working with a group to adopt a family for Thanksgiving they were still curious. My middle son asked why we were bringing them the food if we adopted them, since he was thinking that us “adopting” them meant they were going to come live with us.

When we found the house we were greeted with multiple smiles. The dad, Gilbert, was off of work since he works as a school bus driver. My sons and I began to bring in food, and when Gilbert saw all we had, he rounded up his family to assist us. Even the youngest, while wobbling down the wheel chair ramp, assisted with the bags.

After all the food was in the house the family invited us to stay and chat. I instantly felt comfortable with the family and so we stayed. Every so often I would hear a giggle, and see their girls poking their heads out the bedroom door, pointing at my boys, smiling, and quickly shutting the door. Even before leaving it was announced that they thought my sons were cute.

When we left the youngest told me he wanted to come with. If given the chance I would have invited him to visit. The final goodbye included many thanks of gratitude along with hugs from all.

Days after I received a call from FVPS thanking the EF community for all the joy they brought to these families. Additionally, we were given a certificate of appreciation.

I want to end this by once again saying thank you to all of you that helped. I appreciate that although I am still a newbie to the community you allowed me to help in my town. I feel blessed this holiday season to say that I am a member of such a caring group.

Happy Holidays,

Ange