HomeBridge Holiday

As always, Christmas in the HomeBridge Community had its ups and downs. Some of the young people were able to go on short family visits for a meal or even an overnight stay, but many spent their entire holiday season with us.  Whatever the holidays looked like for each of the young people, one thing was consistent: the incredible community support for our Holidays of Hope Campaign had a very positive impact on all of them.

Each program planned their own activities to suit the unique needs of the young people.  For some programs that looked very traditional. The team at Jubien House planned 12 days of Christmas activities leading up to the big day.  This included making gingerbread houses, going out to look at the Christmas lights, movie nights, and even a craft night. The Sullivan House residents also embraced the season.  They received matching pajamas that they proudly wore on Christmas Eve while they enjoyed hot chocolate in their festive mugs, and on Christmas day they put one of our Youth Care Workers culinary skills to the test.  It was her first time cooking a turkey and a ham, but the young women gave her great reviews as they enjoyed the festive spread.

Things at the Reigh Allen Centre and Cogswell House were not quite as traditional.  Some of the young people struggled more with the circumstances and therefore the teams made alternative plans to fit what they wanted to do.  New Year’s Eve was the big celebration at the Reigh Allen Centre.  One of the young people took the lead on setting up snack and drink stations in the common room and helped set up a balloon drop for when the clock struck midnight.

Two of the Cogswell House residents were happy to be able to go spend time with family over the holidays.  One of them received a Lego set for Christmas that he was very excited about and he took it home with him to put it together with his siblings.  This thoughtful gift promoted a family activity and a meaningful experience he got to share with them.

The presents received were a highlight for all of the young people.  Make-up brushes were a huge hit at Sullivan House, as was diamond art.  Crafting is a very popular activity in this program, so the dining room was turned into a craft room for most of the holidays as they worked on everything from designing their own t-shirts to creating vision boards for 2025.

Jubien House had their own fashion show as the young men all received outfits from American Eagle. Board games were also a big hit and were a great way to bring the youth and Youth Care Team together. At Cogswell House there were tunes playing on bluetooth speakers, LED lights being installed in bedrooms and one very excited resident showing off his car safety kit.  He has been working on fixing up an old car to get it road ready, so this was a gift that he was very excited about.

We know that presents and fun activities cannot erase the trauma these young people have experienced. However, they can certainly distract them for a little while and remind them that there are people who care and are here to help them through this challenging time in their lives. Everyone who contributed to the Holidays of Hope Campaign definitely helped to make their holiday season brighter.

On top of all of the stocking stuffers and gifts that were donated, over $10,000 was raised to keep the celebrations going.  This money has already funded some of the fun outings and activities mentioned and will continue to ensure that every holiday and special occasion in 2025 is just as meaningful.  We understand that every young person is unique, and this money allows us to fund celebrations and other significant holidays that reflect their diverse cultures and traditions.  Thank you to everyone who supported our efforts to create the best experiences possible for the youth in our care.