Tri-Cap offers families a “hand up” for Christmas gifts
Over 120 local, less fortunate families were able to shop for Christmas toys at a special event offered by Tri-Cap this year.
Taking a different approach to holiday charity, Tri-Cap offered for families to earn credit to spend at the special shop by attending classes and taking part in volunteer activities through the organization rather than providing families with donated toys for presents.
“Tri-Cap is focused on being a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out,'” Tri-Cap executive director Joyce Fleck said in a press release about the event. “We introduced this new format for this year’s Holiday Assistance Project.”
Since August, families have had the ability to earn credits toward the shop by attending Tri-Cap sponsored events such as financial literacy courses, energy conservation classes, and educational parent meetings. Those families could also earn credit by attending client advisory committee meetings, volunteering for Tri-Cap, and by displaying other steps they are taking towards increased responsibility for their own or their family’s health, housing, or educational self-sufficiency.
The amount of credits they could receive was not limited and depended directly on a family’s participation with Tri-Cap programs. Those credits were valued at $1 and the participants could match the number of tickets with real currency to purchase additional items for their family’s needs.
On December 13, over a 100 volunteers came together at the Christian Church of Jasper to put the items donated on display for the families to purchase with their tickets. Items available to be purchases were donated by over 30 local businesses as well as churches, civic organizations, and innumerable generous individuals in the community.
According to Fleck, all of the funds raised from the Holiday Shop are being put back into our organization’s Family Development program so needs can continually be assessed and met.
The new format better matches TRI-CAP’s goal of having client families reach self-sufficiency, Fleck said in the press release.
Anyone interested in contributing towards next year’s Holiday Shop or in providing a forum from which our TRI-CAP clients may earn additional credits, please contact Angie Greulich or Joyce Fleck at 812-482-2233.
