‘Why doesn’t Santa come to my house?’
It’s a surprisingly common question at this time of year from some of the most vulnerable children in Cayman. For some families, the challenge of keeping the lights on and ensuring there is food on the table has to be prioritised over gifts.
“It is not a season of joy for everyone. It is a season of stress and worry and disappointment,” says Tara Nielsen of non-profit Acts of Random Kindness.
The charity’s Christmas campaigns aim to change that for as many families as possible.
ARK is asking individuals and workplaces to consider donating gift cards to allow parents to buy presents for their children. The non-profit is also encouraging donors to contribute by curating gift baskets for single mums.
Nielsen said the campaigns focus on families who receive ARK help throughout the year for a variety of issues including housing, food and utilities bills.
For some families, she said, Christmas is a challenge they can’t afford.
“Imagine wanting to buy something for your children and not being able to, or wanting a family dinner and not having the money. Even a meal out at Wendy’s is expensive.”
With the cost of living – particularly rent and groceries – spiralling, ARK is helping more families than ever. Nielsen said the charity tries to lean on the goodwill of the community at this time of year to allow those struggling mums and children to have something extra.
“Those toy drives are wonderful but it is also nice for mums to go out and choose something for their own children.”
She recommends gift certificates, from such places as J. Michael, Book Nook or Camana Bay.
Nielsen said the idea behind the separate gift-basket campaign for mums was to give something back to people who routinely put their children first.
“We also want them to have something for themselves because that is a luxury they never have.”
ARK has put together a list of items and is encouraging groups of friends or office colleagues to get together and curate the baskets to donate.
Similarly for the gift cards, she said donating was a good alternative to Secret Santa gifts or overindulging each other.
Businesses are also invited to join ARK’s workplace challenge by collecting donations and gift certificates from employees.
Participating companies are asked to send ARK a team photo for its social media and have their company logo displayed at the ARK hub along with work from local artists celebrating the ‘giving is receiving’ challenge.
Four ways to help
- Donate a gift certificate for children.
- Get together with friends and curate a gift basket for single mums.
- Join ARK’s ‘giving is receiving’ workplace challenge.
- Donate money online, referencing the Christmas giveback campaign
- Deadline for contributions is 16 Dec. More information on ARK’s social media pages.
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