Two years ago, at our annual HoliJOY celebration, a little girl came through the doors holding her grandmother’s hand, who was pushing a stroller with her baby sister. They were in a kinship foster situation, a grandmother doing her best to care for her grandchildren through love, not luxury.
At the heart of HoliJOY is something truly special, the Giving JOY Station. Here, every child is paired with a volunteer “personal shopper” and given the opportunity to choose gifts. But here's the catch.. the gifts are not for themselves, but for the people who matter most in their lives.
When the volunteer asked this little girl who she wanted to shop for, she answered, “My Nawnaw, my baby sister and my kitty cat.”
(We didn’t have cat or dog toys that first year, but we do now!)
The volunteer guided her through the shelves to pick out presents for her sister and grandmother. Once chosen, they visited the wrapping station, where the gifts were carefully wrapped in bright paper and ribbons. The little girl went on to enjoy the rest of HoliJOY, bouncing in the inflatables, making crafts, playing games and visiting the the petting zoo multiple times (her grandmother said it was her favorite part of the event)!
Later, as the small family prepared to leave, they stopped by the IKEA Checkout Station to collect her wrapped gifts. The moment the little girl received the gifts, she began jumping up and down, urging her grandmother to open the gift she had chosen “right now!”
Her grandmother tried to explain that she wanted to wait, but the little girl’s excitement was too great. So the volunteer who helped them check out led them to a nearby bench and joined them.
When her grandmother unwrapped the gift, she began to cry. Inside the box was a small snow globe with horses inside. Such a small gift, but one that her granddaughter had chosen just for her.
The little girl was so excited. In that moment, she felt the true magic of the season, the JOY of giving.
Her grandmother wiped her tears and told the volunteer that she hadn’t been able to afford any gifts for her grandkids that year, much less allow her granddaughter to buy something for her. She told the volunteer that she would cherish that gift forever, and thanked the volunteer for giving her granddaughter the opportunity to give her something special.
That’s what HoliJOY is all about. That's why Regifting JOY is so important.
It’s about creating moments like this, when a child who has faced hardship feels the pride, excitement, and love that comes from giving something meaningful... something they picked out... to someone they care about.
This year, we’re inviting you to join us in making that magic possible. We’re asking for new/unopened gifts that you've received in the past. Items that might not have been perfect for you, but could be the perfect gift for a child in foster care to give to someone they love.
Because sometimes the greatest joy doesn’t come from receiving. It comes from giving. Can you imagine a better way to regift this year?
Help us. Regift JOY.
Visit ShareintheJOY.org/holijoy for information about HoliJOY
If you are a business that would like a Regifting JOY Collection Bin, please reach out: info@shareinthejoy
A list of locations with Regifting Collection Bins will be posted soon!
